Updates: Updates will be done on a regular basis on the current Lunar-Phase dates. However, there will be times, due to other pressing issues, when the update may take longer.

Overview: This calendar indicates the dates on which it is more likely for there to be earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, tsunamis, major weather events, wars, civil unrest, and solar activity. This not astrology. For a more detailed description on what the calendar is based upon click
here. Note: All times shown are 24-hour Universal Time and actual local times will usually differ, and local dates may also differ. For earthquakes they are shown as (date; hour:minute); example (01-01; 08:03), which is January 1 at 8:03 UT.

January

5th -- Last Quarter (3h 58m) MODERATE

Asia: Pakistan: A US drone attack in the northwest tribal area of South Waziristan, killed at least 8 suspected militants. Indian and Pakistan: Indian
soliders raided a military post in the Haji Pir sector of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, exchanges of gunfire along the Line of Control killed at least
two. Afghanistan: A pair of suicide bombers targeted a meeting of tribal elders in the south, killing at least 5 (one account says 8) and injuring 15.
Bangladesh: The main opposition party, the BNP, and its supporters undertook a nationwide strike in protest of the recent rise in fuel prices, police fired
tear gas and rubber bullets at the protesters in the capital, Dhaka. Australia: Brushfires ravaged towns in southern Tasmania where 100 were
missing, as almost 3,000 were evacuated from their homes to flee the widespread fires; more than 100 homes were destroyed. Mideast: Syria: A gas
station was bombed by government jets; It was claimed that more than 100 were killed. Europe: Ireland: Violence broke out as protesters threw
bricks and smoke bombs at the police, again in protest of a new law that restricts the flying of the union flag, injuring at least 52 officers. Italy: An
avalanche in the Fiemme Valley, in the province of Trento, killed two; Six Russian tourists were killed the previous day in the same valley. South
America: Chile: Violence broke out in the capital of Santiago as hundreds of protesters from the indigenous Mapuche community targeted two Spanish
banks with rocks and gasoline bombs, in response police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. North America: Mexico: Heavily armed gunmen in the
north stormed two bars, killing at least nine; police believe that gangs fighting for control of drug trafficking in Coahuila state were responsible.
US: A 7.5 magnitude earthquake rocked southern Alaska (01/05; 08:58:20), prompting a tsunami warning. [Note: See the 2012 Disaster Probability Calendar
after December 16th where a note was posted that a high probability of a large Alaskan quake was predicted.] Solar Activity: The Sun was peppered
with more than a dozen active sunspots, increasing the likelihood of flares. On the 5th a region unleashed an M1.7-class eruption that sent a wave of
ionization through the upper atmosphere over Europe.

8th-9th -- Mid-Phase MODERATE

Mideast: In general: Brutal winter weather brought about dire conditions that were even more unbearable in certain parts of the Middle East.
Temperatures dipped below the regional average for this time of year to 9-18 degrees Fahrenheit (5-10 degrees Celsius) across Syria, Lebanon,
Jordan and Israel. Syria: In addition to an ongoing civil war, residents in cities were taking drastic measures to stay warm and alive when there is
no fuel, no wood, and no electricity. Some places, such as Homs and Busra, were choked off from basic supplies, not just electricity, but also bread
and water. Jabhat al-Nusra, a foreign terrorist group with ties to al Qaeda, entered into the picture with about 5,000 oppositon fighters against the
Assad regime. Palestine: On the West Bank 400 homes were submerged by floodwaters. Jordan: Temperatures dropped below freezing at a Syrian refugee camp
where people where living in tents. Turkey and Lebanon: The coldest air of the winter moved in behind a heavy snowstorm that blanketed Syrian refugee
camps with people also living in tents. Lebanon: Widespread flooding occurred after heavy rainfall, killing at least 3 and injuring at least 55.
Europe: Austria: Unusually heavy rainfall caused a number of landslides, in Salzburg saturated soil caused a section of forest to slide down a
bank onto a road, and in Styria, four were evacuated when mud buried a home's terrace. Ireland: Disorder surrounding the flying of the union flag
continued in Belfast with 66 officers injured and 100 arrests, as protesters threw fireworks and gasoline bombs at the police. Asia: Bali:
Tropical storm Narelle brought strong winds, high waves and heavy rains, causing severe damage to public facilities and houses. Australia:
Wildfires continued to destroy large tracts of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania, and along with them homes, buildings and livestock,
amid temperatures that ranged from 104-117 degrees Fahrenheit (40-47 degrees C). It may be the largest wildfire in history and the highest temperatures
ever to hit the area. Africa: Nigeria: An oil depot in the port city of Lagos was been hit by major explosions and a fire; the cause was not yet
known. Sudan: The humanitarian crisis in South Kordofan and Blue Nile provinces, where the government is fighting rebels, worsened affecting more than
700,000, with many surviving on roots and leaves. South Africa: Farm workers barricaded roads, set ablaze cars and threw stones at police who fired
rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse them in the wine-producing Western Cape region. The farm workers complained of low wages and no money for
school clothes, as labor relations were fraught with racial tensions. South America: Peru: A helicopter crashed in the northern village of San
Juan, killing seven. Galapagos Islands: The island of Pinzon was being overrun by invading rats who are known to destroy the eggs of the archipelago's
native giant tortoises. The rats, brought to the islands by humans, have no predators and thereby multiply rapidly; they are now being poisoned by
conservationists to protect the tortoises. North America: US: A New York passenger ferry hit a dock during the Manhattan rush hour,
injuring 11 seriously. A 300-foot crane collapsed onto a building under construction in Long Island City, Queens, trapping 3 in twisted metal and
injuring seven. Southwest Louisiana was hit downpours that caused rivers and streams reach flood stage, as heavy rain reached from 9 to over 11 inches
(23-28 cm) in 24 hours. Three rare tornadoes also struck, blowing homes off their foundations, snapping trees and peeling siding and roofs off mobile
homes. Solar Activity: A very large sunspot (AR1654) emerged over the Sun's eastern limb, and displays the potential for flares.

11th -- New Moon (19h 44m) MODERATE

Asia: China: A landslide swept through Gaopo Village, Zhenxiong County, in the steep mountains of the south, killing at least 78, and also smothered
homes in Zhaojiagou village, where at many were missing. Pakistan: Bomb blasts in Quetta, near Islamabad, killed at least 97, and a separate attack in
the Swat Valley killed at least 21; the blasts also wounded about 150. Indonesia: Manam volcano, north of New Guinea, erupted (1/12; 05:30).
Mideast: Syria: Opposition fighters captured a strategic northern military base -- Taftanaz airbase, used by the government to bomb opposition
strongholds -- killing at least 106, and seizing control of buildings, ammunition and military equipment at the base in Idlib province. Kuwait: Temperatures
dropped below zero in several areas; the average low for this time of year is 46 degrees F (7 degrees C). Africa: Mali: Government forces regained
territory from Islamist militants following air strikes by the French military. Kenya: A dawn raid the Kibusu village, in the southeast, killed at least
10 in what was called a revenge attack after an attack on a nearby Orma village a day earlier that killed at least six. More people were injured in the
attack that also included a Pokomo village in the Tana River delta region. Malawi: Heavy rains and strong winds flooding the central and southern parts
of the nation, killing 3 and destroying nearly 5,000 homes. Europe: Ireland: Continued violence linked to union flag protests in
the north injuried another four policeman as they fired plastic bullets at rioters who threw gasoline bombs. Russia: Plosky Tolbachik volcano again
erupted on the Kamtchatka? Penninsula, sending plumes of gas and ash 650 feet (200 m) high and creating a lava lake. France: Heavy rains began to fall
in the south of the Garonne near the Pyrenees, rivers already began to rise sharply and were expected to continue for a week as a month's rain falls
nearly every day. North America: US: Influenza reached epidemic proportions, affecting 47 states. The West recorded record lows while
simultaneously recording record highs in the East. Canada: A major blizzard covered eastern provinces, causing power outages; the effects of the
storm also reached into the central US. Australia: Tropical Cyclone Narelle strengthened as it moved slowly to the southwest over the open waters
northwest of Western Australia. Sustained winds reached 125 mph (201 kph), making the storm comparable to a strong Category 3 hurricane and it was still
strengthening. Solar Activity: Sunspot AR1654 grew more active and larger as it turned toward Earth with the chance of increasing flares that
could develop into an Earth-directed flare.

14th-15th -- Mid-Phase MODERATE

Asia: Japan: An unusually strong snowstorm, driven by gale-force winds, hit Tokyo and the surrounding area, while as much as 20 inches (50 cm) of
snow hit the Kanto and Koshin regions, injuring 900 and killing one. China: Beijing recorded "hazardous" levels of air pollution, as a thick smog
blanketed areas of China, which prompted warnings for children not to play outside and caused skyrocketing sales of masks amid respiratory problems; the
Sun could not be seen. Burma: The Burmese military fired shells at a Kachin-rebel stronghold, killing three civilians. India: Less than a month after
the gang rape and murder of a student, that caused widespread protests, another six men gang rape a woman after a bus driver refused to stop at hear
village, but instead left her at a desolate location in the northern state of Punjab. For a second time of conflict across the disputed Kashmir border,
Pakistan accused the Indian army of killing one of its soldiers with "unprovoked" firing. Pakistan: Thousands protested the current "corrupt" government
near the parliament building in Islamabad, where clashes took place with security forces. Indonesia: Jakarta torrential rains brought flooding
that displaced at least 10,000 and killed 26. Java: Strong winds accompanied by heavy rains brought flash floods and landslides, and flooded a number
of regions. Mideast: Syria: A government-led air strike on a Damascus suburb left at least 13 dead. Two bomb blasts hit a university in the
northern city of Aleppo on the first day of exams, killing at least 83 and injuring at least 150, and destroying buildings and vehicles. Iraq: A Sunni
member of parliament and two bodyguards were killed by a suicide bomber in the city of Fallujah. Africa: Mali: Al Queada-linked Islamist-militant
fighters seized Diabaly after France began a military intervention on the 11th. France says that the rebels were in retreat elsewhere, as thousands of
African troops were to arrive in days and weeks to support Malian and French forces. The following day at 2 AM, Al Queada-linked militants from Algeria,
heavily armed with guns and in vehicles, stormed the energy site in In Amenas, in the east, taking foreign nationals from six countries hostage, and
killing 12 and injuring many in retaliation for the French air strikes on Mali; later (see the 18th) militants would also perish. Egypt: A military train
carrying army recruits derailed south of the capital, Cairo, killing 19 people and injuring more than 100. Mozambique: Heavy rains brought havoc with
flooding inundating parts of the capital, destroying roads, leaving thousands homeless and killing 17. Europe: Ireland: Once again a loyalist
protest over the union flag led to violence as gasoline bombs were thrown at a Catholic Church in a sectarian interface in Belfast, as stones were thrown
at police and there were two attempts to hijack buses. United Kingdom: Heavy snow fell across parts of the UK after warnings from forecasters that large
regions of England would see up to another 4 inches (10cm) fall on the 14th. Temperatures were expected to drop to around 14 degrees F (-10 C) across
rural Scotland, and as low as 23 degrees F (-5 C) across parts of northern and eastern England. North America: US: Heavy rains brought huge floods
to areas of Central and Southern Indiana, killing at least one. South America: French Guiana: Rough seas with high tides accompanied by a sustained
surge destroyed homes in Remire-Montjoly, a suburb of Cayenne. Australia: A severe storm and a tornado struck the small town of Jundah, in western
Queensland. The tiny western town of Karlgarin was virtually wiped off the map by a freak storm that swept through the southern region of West Australia.
New Zealand: Heavy rains across the middle of the country brought widespread flooding. Pacific: The Pacific-Antarctic Ridge was jolted by
a 6.1 magnitude earthquake (01/15; 16:09:37). Solar Activity: The chance of flares from Sunspot AR1654 were estimated to be a 65% chance of M-class
solar flares, and a near certain chance of X-flares. Meanwhile, a stream of solar wind blew around Earth, triggering a geomagnetic storm and Arctic
auroras.

18th -- First Quarter (23h 45m) LOW

Africa: Algeria: After releasing hundreds of hostages, the militants remained holed up at the gas facility with about 30 foreign hostages. Attempts
to undertake a rescue operation lead to the deaths of 37 hostages and 29 militants (see previous Lunar Phase for more). Mali: Islamist fighters
withdrewn from two towns in central Mali after the French attacked with air strikes. Already about 150,000 people have fled to neighbouring countries, and
it is feared that the fighting will cause another 700,000 to be forced from their homes. Asia: Indonesia: Jakarta flood waters drove about 19,000
from their homes and killed at least 14 with more rain forecast to come. Philippines: Heavy, non-stop rains brought the worst flooding in years to Davao
Province, and displaced at least 65,000 in 12 riverside villages and killed three. Mideast: Syria: At least 106 were killed and burned in their
homes in the village of Haswiya, in Homs, by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. Europe: Portugal: A deep depression that grew off the Azores
moved eastward impacting the coast with strong, gale-force winds and heavy rains, killing one, injuring 21 and destroying homes. Various parts of Europe
were blanketed by heavy snowfall, including Russia, France, Austria and the UK, as Austria had its heaviest snowfall in 10 years and more than 3,000 schools
were closed in England and Wales; Transportation of all sorts was disrupted. France: Heavy snow and freezing rain killed seven. Austria: An avalanche in
the Austrian Alps, near Hermagor in Carinthia, killed three who were experienced in mountain rescue. Bulgaria: Torrential rain brought floods and a
landslide, cutting off the access to six settlements in the south near Nedelino. Australia: The city of Sydney experienced its hottest day on
record, with a temperature of nearly 115 degrees F (46 degrees C). South America: Colombia: ELN (National Liberation Army) rebels in the north
kidnapped five workers from a mining company, leading to an land and air rescue operation. North America: US: Parts of the Southeast were hit with
rare heavy snowfall, as hundreds spent a cold night trapped on Interstate 65 in Cullman County, in central Alabama, after the snow caused a series of
wrecks that snarled traffic for miles. Solar Activity: An incoming Coronal Mass Ejection brought a 30% chance of polar geomagnetic storms, as
auroras filled the Arctic skies. Sunspot AR1654 was in a state of unrest, constantly shifting, reconnecting and producing minor flares, while harboring
energy for powerful X-class eruptions.

Mid-21st-Mid-23rd -- Mid-Phase LOW

Africa: South Africa: The Limpopo river overflowed its banks in the northeast, killing 6, while 44 people were rescued at the Mapungubwe Main Gate
next to the Kruger National Park. Mozambique: Heavy rains hit the flood-struck south, killing at least 14, as authorities sought to evacuate 55,000 after
heavy rains caused sea levels to rise to dangerous levels in parts of the country. Nigeria: Islamist-militants, the Boko Haram, appeared to be responsible
for a gunmen who targeted hunters selling bush meat in Damboa, killing 18 people, and an attack on a group of men playing checkers, in Kano, killing five.
Suspected Islamist-militants beheaded five people residing in their homes in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri. Mali: Mali's army carried out numerous
"summary executions", some for simply not having identity documents, as it fights to recapture the Islamist-militant-controlled north. Malawi: An extremely
violent hailstorm destroyed houses and farm fields in the northern districts of Mzimba and Chitipa, leaving many farmers homeless and destitute. Mideast:
Syria: Fighting in various parts of the nation left 51 dead and houses in rubble, as nearly 5,900 refugees fled to neighboring Jordan. The regime was
hitting everything vital to survival, as the opposition readied to take over the last bit of the north at Mannagh airbase, where fighting around Mannagh
devastated farms, orchards and villages. Scores of Russians were being flown home after fleeing the violence. Iraq: Car bombings in and around Baghdad
killed at least 17 and wounded dozens. The following day, another suicide car bombing, targeting a funeral being held at a Shia mosque, took place in the
town of Tuz Khurmatu, near Baghdad, killing at least 35 and wounding dozens more. Palestine/Israel: Troops "returned fire" after Palestinians threw
gasoline bombs at them, killing one Palestinian, near al-Arroub College, north of Hebron. Asia: Indonesia: A 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit northern
Sumatra (01/21; 22:22:54), killing one and injuring seven, as houses were destroyed. Philippines: Heavy, non-stop rains continued to bring more flooding
to Davao Province, as the displaced rose to at least 245,000 and left 10 dead. Europe: United Kingdom: Fresh snowfall caused more disruption as
sub-zero temperatures and icy conditions affected the country for a fifth successive day; Schools were closed, flights cancelled, railways idled and
roadways were undriveable. North America: US: Arctic air slammed into the Upper Midwest and Northeast bringing temperatures to as low as minus-50
degrees F (minus-46 degrees C) in Maine. Across the other side of the country record highs hit Los Angeles and San Diego at 80 degrees F (27 degrees C) --
a difference of 130 degrees F (55 degrees C) from coast to coast. South America: Ecuador: Heavy rains began that would kill 10 and injure 18 after
triggering mudslides. Australia: Extratropical-Cyclone Oswald swept down the Queensland coast, bringing torrential rain to north Queensland,
flooding Ingham, Halifax and Tully and parts of Townsville, and closing dozens of roads and national parks. Solar Activity: Two long filaments of
solar magnetism erupted, sending bright coronal mass ejections directly in front of Mercury. A coronal hole developed in the southern hemisphere's solar
atmosphere, spewing a stream of solar wind.

27th -- Full Moon (4h 38m) LOW

Mideast: Egypt: President Mohammed Morsi declared a state of emergency in the cities of Port Said, Suez and Ismalia after protests erupted in Port
Said and spread to other cities, and leaving at least 33 dead and scores injuried. A leading opposition group calls for protests unless a new government
is formed. Asia: Indonesia: Torrential rain in the west triggered two separate landslides, killing 12. Afghanistan: A roadside bomb exploded in
Kandahar, killing 10, after police defused one bomb only to set off a second bomb. A suicide attack hit a busy market in the city of Kunduz, killing at
least 10 and injuring 20. Turkey: A landslide overwhelmed a soccer field in the city of Sirnak, killing at least 7 and injuring 3, one person was missing.
Phillipines: Heavy rains unleashed a landslide on the village in Maco, Compostela Valley, washing away houses and sending people fleeing as the a river
changed course from the landslide. Europe: Portugal: A rain-soaked road caused a bus to plunge into a ravine in the town of Serta, killing at
least 10 and injuring more than 30. United Kingdom: More than 80 flood warnings and nearly 300 alerts were issued across Britain as thawing snow and
heavy rain brought extensive flooding with more to come as the week progressed. Russia: The Plosky Tolbachik volcano, located on the Kamchatka peninsula,
erupted with plumes of gas and ash sent high into the sky, and also created a lava lake. Africa: Mozambique: Days of rain led to flooding, killing
at least 36 and displacing 70,000 with further flooding to come in the following days. Mali: French-led forces recaptured Gao and then advanced on the
key city of Timbuktu. Seychelles: Severe weather brought flooding, landslides and rock falls to the main island of Mahe, destroying homes. Australia:
Extratropical-Cyclone Oswald continued bringing floods and tornadoes, as a sixth tornado hit Queensland's Bundaberg region, and numerous homes were
destroyed and several people were missing; It would later hit parts of Sydney with record rainfall. South America: Brazil: A fire swept through a
nightclub in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, killing at least 233 and sending more than 100 to hospitals. North America: US: Tucson, Arizona was
hit with heavy rains that caused widespread flooding. A storm system produced dangerous ice across the Midwest as it moved on to the mid-Atlantic and New
England. Atlantic: North: An a very rare and exceptionally low-pressure, extratropical cyclone developed between Newfoundland and the Western
Ireland, generating waves of 23 to 26 feet high (7-8 m) and in the eye 49 feet (15 m); It has been called "the storm of the decade" in that region.
Solar Activity: A solar wind stream hit Earth's magnetic field on the 26th, sparking Arctic Circle auroras.

30th-31st -- Mid-Phase LOW

Mideast: Syria: An Israeli airstrike destroyed a convoy of what appeared to be the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon. The
strike hit a scientific research center in Jamraya, killing two and wounding five. Egypt: Protests continued in defiance of a curfew, as violence
brought the death toll to 60. Asia: India: Violent weather brought hailstones the size of boulders to villages in the state of Andhra Pradesh,
killing at least nine. Indonesia: Mount Lokon volcano in North Sulawesi erupted, sending a plume of ash up to 2,625 feet (800 m) into the atmosphere.
Pakistan: An IED explosion and targeted killings left 13 dead as violence hit the southern city of Karachi. Bangladesh: A strike over war crimes
trials sparked clashes that left two dead, as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets, and vehicles were torched. Europe: France: An avalanche
hit the mountains of Taillefer, in the Alps, killing at least two. Bulgaria: A dangerous landslide threatened the village of Tanka Bara near Nedelino,
where people and houses were in line to be hit. United Kingdom: Flooding brought devastation and water supply woes in communities across the country.
Africa: Mali: The French military took control of the airport in the key city of Kidal, the last major town under rebel control in the north.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Heavy rains brought floods that destroyed at least 100 homes, leaving hundreds homeless in Bunia, capital of Ituri.
North America: US: An extreme weather system brought snow, flooding, temperatures extremes, damaging winds and 16 deadly tornadoes with more than
400 incidents of severe weather reaching from northern Florida to Pennsylvania resulting in extensive property damage. Houses were destroyed, cars flipped
and a factory was leveled. It is extremely rare for there to be tornadoes in January. A 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit southeastern Alaska (01/31; 09:53:44).
Mexico: An explosion in a building in Mexico City killed at least 14 and injuried at least 100. It was not known what caused the explosion. Canada: Strong
winds of about 62 mph (100 kph) knocked out power lines, damaged building and disabled hydro equipment across Quebec. South America: Chile: A 6.8
magnitude earthquake hit the northern part of the country in Atacama (01/30; 20:15:43). Colombia: Fighting between Farc rebels and the government left at
least nine dead. Pacific: The Santa Cruz Islands were shook by 6.2 magnitude (01/31; 03:33:44) and 6.0 magnitude (01/30; 23:03:45) earthquakes, and
later was hit by earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 (02/01; 05:36:41), 6.3 (02/01; 22:16:36) and 6.4 (02/01; 22:18:35), and numerous foreshocks and aftershocks.
Solar Activity: A filament of magnetism unexpectedly erupted over the Sun's northeastern limb, but was pulled back by the Sun's gravity.

February

3rd -- Last Quarter (13h 56m) LOW

Mideast: Iraq: A suicide car bomber, followed by gunmen in police uniforms, attacked police headquarters in the city of Kirkuk, killing at least
20 and wounding at least 35. The following day another suicide bomb attack in the town of Taji killed at least 19 and wounded at least 40; the majority
of the victims were anti-al-Qaeda militia. Europe: Kosovo: A flashpoint for violence between Kosovo's Serbs and Albanians in the town of Mitrovica
was hit by three attacks in 24 hours, at least two children were killed. United Kingdom: A strong storm across the northern Atlantic brought extreme winds,
particularly to the northwestern coast of Scotland and higher elevations, where hurricane-force winds reached a sustained 77 mph (123 kph) and gusts as
high as 120 mph (193 kph). Belgium: An rare tornado swept through the provinces of East and West Flanders, causing some damage to buildings.
Africa: Mali: French warplanes bombed rebel bases and depots in remote parts of the north cutting off supplies to the rebels held up in the north
and northeast. Asia: Japan: A 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Hokkaido (02/02; 14:17:35). Pakistan: Torrential rains began that would eventually
flood large areas of the country, killing at least 34. Indonesia: After rumbling for months, Paluweh volcano released an explosive eruption sending huge
clouds of ash into the air destroying many of the island’s crops and setting off a pyroclastic flow. North America: Canada: A major winter storm
began to move in bearing down on Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Halifax, becoming a blizzard. US: An avalanche near the Silverton Mountain Ski
Area in Colorado killed one and injuried two. Pacific: Santa Cruz Islands: A 6.0 magnitude earthquake shook the islands (02/02; 18:58:07), and
had numerous foreshocks and aftershocks ranging in magnitude from 4.1 to 5.6. Solar Activity: Sunspot AR1667 was producing C-class solar flares
and seemed capable of producing a stronger M-class flare. It also unleashed a strong burst of shortwave radio static.

6th-7th -- Mid-Phase LOW

Mideast: Syria: Fierce fighting took place in Damascus as opposition fighters attacked government forces, bombings in the town of Palmyra alone
killed 19. Iraq: Car bomb attacks hit areas of Shia muslims, killing at least 33 and injuring about 100 in Baghdad, Shomali and Karbala early on the 8th.
Africa: Tunisia: The assassination of a leading opposition figure brought fierce clashes between protesters throwing stones and gasoline
bombs, and the police who fired tear gas and rubber bullets. Mali: French and Malian forces continued to fight militants in remoted desert regions.
Zambia: A crash between a bus and a big-rig truck left at least 53 dead. Asia: Indonesia: A landslide triggered by heavy rains killed at least one,
injuried two and left five missing in Central Java. Europe: France: Strong storms with wind gusts up to 62 mph (100 kph) brought widespread damages
and power outages. North America: US and Canada: A powerful snow and rain storm around the Great Lakes headed to merge with another powerful rain
and thunder storm coming up from the Southeast bringing an historic Nor'easter blizzard to New England and surrounding areas with snowfalls bringing as
much as two to three feet (70 cm or more) of snow. Hurricane force winds brought coastal flooding to many areas, including those who had not yet recovered
from hurricane Sandy. Numerous record snowfalls were broken, including more than 40 inches in Connecticut and nealy 3 feet in Long Island, NY. Schools were
closed, and Amtrak trains and nearly 5,700 flights were canceled, as nearly 650,000 were left without power and 12 deaths were blamed on the storm. NASA
satellite images revealed a low pressure center like that of a Category 1 hurricane -- what some would call a White Hurricane. Pacific: Santa Cruz
Islands: A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake hit (02/06; 01:12:27) and generated several tsunamis, killing at least 9 in the nearby Solomon Islands, as
villages were destroyed. The Santa Cruz Islands were also hit by numerous strong earthquakes of various magnitudes in order of occurrence: 6.3 (02/06;
00:07:23), 6.4 (02/06; 01:23:20), 7.0 (02/06; 01:54:15), 6.3; (02/06; 06:35:20), 6.0 (02/06; 13:54:54), 6.2 (02/07; 00:30:11), 6.1 (02/07; 08:03:41), and
6.6 (02/07; 18:59:16); and another 110 quakes of magnitudes ranging from 4.5 to 5.9. Solar Activity: Sunspot AR1667 erupted, producing a ten-hour
long double-peaked C9-class solar flare and two coronal mass ejections. This eruption affected the Earth after a few days.

10th -- New Moon (7h 20m) LOW

Europe: Switzerland: An avalanche swept away four backcountry skiers in the Glarus Alps, on the peak of Haldensteiner Calanda, killing at least one
and injuring one. United Kingdom, France, and Italy: A strong winter cyclone pressed southward from near Iceland bringing widespread snowfall with the
biggest impacts felt across southern Europe as the storm intensified and dropped heavy snow in the Alps and across northern Italy. Asia: India:
A stampede of Hindu pilgrims -- flocking to the banks of the Ganges River for the world's largest religious gathering -- entered the railway station in
Allahabad and broke through temporary barriers onto crowded and already busy platforms, killing at least 36 and injuring at least 30. Africa:
Mali: Malian troops and Islamist militants exchanged heavy gunfire on the streets of Gao in the north. Nigeria: Three North Korean doctors were killed
in the north-eastern state of Yobe, it is believed by the Islamist militant group, Boko Haram. South America: Peru, Chile and Bolivia: An
unpresidented downpour of heavy rains -- the equivalent of 3 months of rain in about 7 hours -- drenched the Andes mountains bringing widespread flooding
swamping homes and stranding cars; at least 23 were killed. In Peru at least six were killed, landslides in San Jose de Maipo, Chile cut water supplies,
and in Bolivia crops were destroyed and thousands were displaced. Colombia: A 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit south of Papayan late on the 9th (02/09;
14:16:09). North America: US: Snow and ice storms, in near blizzard conditions, swept the midwest. Fifteen tornadoes touched down in parts of the
South tossing cars and ripping apart more than 600 buildings, and parts of the University of Southern Mississippi; at least 10 were injuried. The most
destructive tornado that hit Hattiesburg, Mississippi was an EF-4, the most violent typr of tornado. Pacific: Santa Cruz Islands: The islands
continued to be shook by earthquakes, as a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck (02/10; 18:39:36), while 17 foreshocks and aftershocks took place ranging in
magnitude from 4.8 to 5.4. Also a 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit late on the 9th (02/09; 21:02:23). Solar Activity: A magnetic filament on the
Sun's northern hemisphere hurled a coronal mass ejection with an underlying C2-class solar flare toward Earth, on the 9th.

13th-14th -- Mid-Phase MODERATE

Mideast: Syria: Opposition forces captured the al-Jarrah military air base near the northern city of Aleppo. Anti-Syrian government militant
Islamist al-Nusra Front fighters captured an oil town near the city of Hasaka, and in the process 30 al-Nusra fighters, 100 Syrian soldiers and dozens of
civilians were killed. Turkey: An explosion at a border gate in Cilvegozu killed at least 14 and wounded at least 28. A Syrian National Council
delegation was supposed to be at the gate but were delayed en route to meet with rebel Free Syrian Army commanders, and it appears to be an assassination
attempt by the Syrian government. Bahrain: Anti-government demonstrators, calling for a general strike, set up road blocks and clashed with security
forces, leaving a teenage boy dead during the protests that marked the 2nd anniversary of a failed uprising. Egypt: Protesters clashed with riot police
outside the presidential palace in Cairo during a rally marking two years since Hosni Mubarak was ousted. Asia: Thailand: Government
troops killed 16 militants who stormed a base in Narathiwat province, near the border with Malaysia. Afghanistan: A NATO air strike in Kunar province
left at least 10 civilians and at least three Taliban commanders dead, and dozens injuried. Pakistan: A blast at a police checkpoint in the Hangu district
of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killed at least 19; Taliban were beleived to be responsible. Africa: South Africa: A 90% rise in residence fees
brought violent student protests that shut down the main campus of Fort Hare University. Europe: United Kingdom: Snow hit parts of the
country, including northern England and Scotland, causing roads closures and motorists to be stuck in their vehicles. An avlanche in the Chalamain Gap
area of the Cairngorms, Scotland, killed two and buried three. Switzerland: Several avalanches in the Swiss canton of Valais killed one and injuried five.
Russia: A 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit the remote region of Sahka, Siberia (02/14; 13:13:53). France: Heavy rains in the Adour basin brought flooding to
the west of the Landes, especially affecting the city of Dax. Indian Ocean: Republic of Mauritius -- an island about 1,250 miles (2,000 km) off
the south east coast of the African continent -- was hit with heavy rains that flooded homes and buildings, and damaged roads. South America:
Colombia: Cashes between soldiers and the country's largest rebel group, the Farc, left at least 7 soldiers dead and 5 injured. Solar Activity:
Earth entered a region of slightly elevated solar wind speed that sparked bright auroras around the Arctic Circle and triggered a geomagnetic storm
recorded in Scandinavia. Space: Early on the 15th a meteorite slammed into parts of Russia, injuring 1,200 and reaping widespread damages to buildings.
Other fireballs appeared with one streaking through the skies above California's Bay Area and another near Cuba.

17th -- First Quarter (20h 31m) MODERATE

Mideast: Iraq: Several car bombs exploded across Baghdad, killing at least 21 people and injuring dozens; Sunni insurgents linked to al-Qaeda were
said to be responsible. Syria: Opposition forces claimed that the Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah attacked three villages in a coordinated effort with the
Assad Regime's army. Asia: Indonesia: Heavy rains triggered floods and landslides, causing thousands to flee their homes in the capital, Manado, and
surrounding areas, and killing at least 15 in North Sulawesi. Pakistan: A bomb blast in a market area with grocery stores, schools and a computer center,
in Quetta, killed at least 81 and injuried at least 178. Phillipines: A 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit Mindanao (02/16; 04:37:36). China: A landslide hit
the southwestern Guizhou Province burying and killing five. India: Heavy, unseasonable rains hit more than a dozen districts, destroying hundreds of
thousands of acres of crops, and heavy hail, strong winds and thunderstorms destroyed more than a thousand homes and killed livestock, while in Madhya
Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh at least 23 were killed. Indian Ocean: Republic of Mauritius: The island nation, off the south east coast of Africa,
was hit with heavy rains flooding streets and homes. Africa: Nigeria: Seven foreign workers were abducted and a security guard shot dead at a
construction company site in the north; It is believed that the Islamist militant group, Boko Haram, was responsible. Pacific: New Zeland: A 6.1
magnitude earthquake rattled the Kermadec Islands (02/18; 12:19:19). North America: US: Stormy weather stretched from Florida, where temperatures
plunged below freezing threatening citrus crops, to New England where another blast of snow reached as much as 8 inches (20 cm) and winds reached 50 to 60
mph (80-97 kph). A new weather system developed in the Midwest that would bring blizzard-like conditions to the Midwest, and eventually, the East.
Solar Activity: The new sunspot AR1675 unleashed the 2013's most intense flare, an M1.9-class flare, producing a wave of ionization in Earth's
upper atmosphere.

mid-20th-mid-23rd -- Mid-Phase MODERATE

Indian Ocean: Madagascar: Tropical Storm Haruna reached Category 2 status and hit the south with heavy rains, killing at least 34, leaving nearly
4,000 homeless, and flooding houses and roads. Mideast: Syria: Three car bombs rocked central Damascus killing at least 53, wounding more than 230
and burning 17 cars; a 4th car bomb did not ignite. Overall more than another 210 were killed across the country on the 21st as the Syrian air force
continued heavy bombing campaigns and opposition forces progressed on the capital. On the 22nd three missiles blasted residential areas of Aleppo, killing
at least 12 and injuried dozens. Israel-Palestine (West Bank): Hundreds of Palestinians clashed with Israeli forces across the West Bank and East
Jerusalem, and also clashed in Hebron and near Nablus, Jenin and Ramallah in protest of hunger-striking prisoners; police used stun grenades and protesters
threw rocks, wounding dozens. Asia: India: A two-day strike called by trade unions in protest against the government's economic reforms brought
sporadic violence with the burning of a fire truck and several cars in Noida, a suburb of Delhi. On the 22nd two bombs planted on bicycles exploded
killing at least 16, wounding 117 and demolishing a busy marketplace. Bangladesh: Clashes between police and Islamist protesters -- who took to the
streets accusing bloggers of blasphemy -- left four dead and dozens injured. Pakistan: An overnight raid in the city of Quetta, left two suspected
militants dead and four arrested. Indonesia: Floodwaters up to 6 feet (2 m) deep in southerrn Sumatra, forced hundreds of villagers to flee. Africa:
Mali: Islamist fighters tried to seize a key building in Gao, but were repulsed by French and Malian forces, leavng at least one dead on the 21st. On the
22nd, the US deployed 100 troops to Niger to assist French forces with intelligence support in neighboring Mali. Kenya: Gunmen open fire at a mosque near
the Somalia border, killing at least seven. Europe: Greece: Tens of thousands took part in a general strike, as workers again protested over the
government's austerity measures. Several hours of heavy rains and thunderstorms brought widespread flooding of homes, roadways and railroads, and sweeping
cars away in Athens. Italy: A torrential downpour of rain and hail flooded the city of Catania in Sicily. Australia: New South Wales was hit by a
strong storm that ripped roofs off of houses, lead to the evacuation of 19,000, flooding and left two dead. North America: US: A low pressure
system intensified across the southern High Plains on the night of the 20th, bringing powerful thunderstorms, large hail and damaging gusts of wind to
west Texas and the following days moved to eastern Texas, Mississippi and Loiusiana with destructive tornadoes. A massive winter storm system brought
record snowfall of more than 18 inches (46 cm) to parts of Kansas. The blizzard also brought thundersnow to Arkansas and Missouri, and its broad reaches
affected more than 60 million people. Trucks jack-knifed, car flipped and crashed, and long lines of vehicles were stranded on roadways. Later a winter
storm raked the Great Lakes on the 22nd covering parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan with at least a half-foot (15 cm) of snow, wrecking havoc on
roadways and causing a plane to overshoot its runway. The storm then went on its way to the already plummeted Northeast wrecking more havoc. South
America: Argentina: A 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit Santiago del Estero (02/22; 12:01:59). Solar Activity: Sunspot AR1678 had a magnetic field
that harbors energy for significant flares, though it is directed away from Earth.

25th -- Full Moon (20h 26m) MODERATE

Asia: Bangladesh: Islamists contunued their call for a general strike and clashed with police near the capital, Dhaka, killing four and injurying
more than a hundred. Africa: Democratic Republic of the Congo: The first clashes between rival factions of the M23 rebel group, linked to a
power-struggle between M23 political leader Jean-Marie Runiga and military chief Sultani Makenga, left 19 dead. Mali: Heavy fighting took place in the
far north, near the Algerian border, in what was called the final phase by the French military. Cameroon: A French family of seven was abducted by the
Islamist Nigerian militant group Boko Haram, who demanded the release of prisoners in Cameroon and Nigeria. Europe: Macedonia: Heavy rains brought
widespread flooding, killing one, washing out roads and inudating homes and farm fields. North America: US: Another major blizzard packing
hurricane-force wind pummeled the Great Plains with snowfalls up to more than two feet (60+ cm) and snow drifts of more than 10 feet (3 m). The storm
spread to the Southeast were it spawned tornadoes in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle. South America: A cold
front brought severe weather to central South America, moving through interior Uruguay and northern Argentina, brining heavy rains and damaging winds.
Colombia: Thousands of coffee growers went on strike, demanding greater subsidies to protect them against falling international prices, which lead to
clashes with police and road closures. Pacific: A tropical depression developed into a Category 1 Cyclone called Cyclone Rusty heading for Western
Australia, near Port Hedland, where it hit with 143 mph (230 kph) winds on the 27th. Solar Activity: A coronal hole opened up and sent a stream of
solar wind into space on the 24th.

28th-March 1st -- Mid-Phase MODERATE

Europe: France: A large wildfire broke out in the southwest near the town of Luxey. Russia: The Kuril Islands, in the Oblast region, were rocked
by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake (02/28; 14:05:52), and the following day another two 6.5 magnitude earthquakes also struck (03/01; 12:53:52, and 03/01;
13:20:51). Spain: Rare twin waterspouts were spawned near the coast of Benidorm, a town along the east coast of Alicante, bringing with them powerful
thunder and lightning. The following day a system brought severe weather to eastern Spain. Mideast: Iraq: Two car bombs exploded in a market in
Diwaniya, killing at least five; it is beleived to be a Sunni attack on a mainly Shia city. Asia: China: A blizzard's heavy snow covered Liaoning,
Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, as well as the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, closing major airports, schools and numerous roads. Pakistan: Snow,
heavy rain and hail brought destruction to the northeast, killing at least 12 and injuring at least 25. Bangladesh: A death sentence was issued for a
senior Islamist leader for war crimes in 1971, sparking protest-clashes that killed at least 30 and wounded dozens. The following day the clashes
continued bringing the death toll to at least 40. Malaysia: In the country's Sabah province, the village of Lahad Datu was occupied by a Muslim
Philippines royal clan, calling itself the Royal Army of Sulu, when a stand-off to end the siege brought deadly clashes that killed at least 14.
Thailand: A bomb blast in the south, outside a market in Narathiwat province, killed at least six. Africa: Democratic Republic of the Congo:
Fighting between the APCLS militia and the army in the east, in Kitchanga, left at least 36 dead and at least 50 wounded, and burned more than 30 houses
to the ground. Later at night more than 4,000 fled from a border town into Uganda to escape the violence. South America: Ecuador: A storm system
headed toward the coast where it hit the province of Guayas with torrential rains that killed at least eight. South Pacific: Republic of Vanuatu:
The island nation was hit with a 6.1 magnitude earthquake (02/28; 03:09:44). North America: US: A sinkhole suddenly opened up under a house in
Tampa Bay, Florida, swallowing a man to death while he slept. Solar Activity: A high-speed solar wind, a result of an earlier coronal hole, hit
the Earth's magnetic field producing bright, circum-Arctic auroras.

Note: See last entry under February for March 1st.

March

4th -- Last Quarter (21h 53m) HIGH

Asia: Japan: A storm system headed for the island nation where heavy snowfall in the north killed at least eight, and the blizzard forced a high-
speed bullet train to derail. Pakistan: A massive car bombing in the southern city of Karachi killed at least 45 in the latest attack on the Shiite
minority. Bangladesh: A death sentence for a senior Islamist leader that sparked protests, beginning on the last lunar phase (2/28-3/1), continued with
the death toll reaching at least 60. Indonesia: A major storm system brought heavy rain that lead to mass evacuations in the capital, Jakarta. Mount
Tangkuban Perahu's volcano erupted on Java island, spewing smoke and ash nearly 1,500 feet (500 m) into the air, and leading to the evacuation of 1,500.
India: Torrential rains, in Chungu nallah near Pancheri in Udhampur district, brought flash floods that wahed away homes and made many homeless. Mideast:
Iraq: A group of mostly Syrian soliders fled across the border into Anbar province to escape attacks from opposition forces only to be attacked by gunman
who killed at least 48 and 9 Iraqis. In a seperate incident, a suicide car bombing in Mosul killed at least five police officers. Yemen: A suicide bomb
attack in the city of Lawdar, in Abyan province, killed 12 members of a pro-government militia group. Syria: Rebels captured large parts of a Syrian
police academy near Aleppo, after days of deadly battles that took at least 200 fighters from both sides of the conflict. Africa: Egypt: Clashes
between police and protesters in Port Said left at least six dead and more than 400 injuried, and a security headquarters was set on fire. More violence
broke out in Cairo as protesters blocked a key intersection and burned at least one police car. Nigeria: The Nigerian army killed 20 fighters from
Islamist group Boko Haram when they tried to seize military barracks in the village of Monguno in the north-eastern state of Borno, on the 3rd. Europe:
Russia: The Plosky Tolbachik volcano in the Northeast, on the Kamchatka peninsular, continued to erupt with bright flows of lava cutting through snow.
Ireland: Police stopped a IRA terrorist attack in Londonderry that was minutes away from launching mortars at a police station, arresting three. France:
Heavy rains, strong winds and stormy seas brought flooding to parts of the south, killing two. Australia: A major storm system brought heavy rains
to Queensland and coastal flooding. North America: US: Another major snow storm spread from North Dakota and Chicago to Washington, D.C. and up the
Northeast Coast, where it brought strong winds, beach erosion and coastal flooding, killing four. The system went on to generate an EF1 tornado in
Glascock County, Georgia, reaping widespread damages. Solar Activity: A high-speed solar wind, a result of an earlier coronal hole, continued
to hit the Earth's magnetic field producing bright, circum-Arctic auroras. An active region on the farside of the Sun erupted early the 5th, sending off
a bright coronal mass ejection into space.

7th-8th -- Mid-Phase HIGH

Mideast: Israel and Gaza: Huge swarms of locusts, likened to a "plague of Biblical prportions", swept the region, as aerial and ground spraying of
pesticdes attempted to quell the locusts; some people were making snacks of them. Syria: A new surge of thousands of refugees made their way into southern
Turkey after the Syrian air force bombed the city of Raqqah, following the opposition's take over of the city. The village of Jamla, where 21 UN
peacekeepers were detained, was also heavily bombed by Syrian armed forces. Europe: France: A Goodyear tire factory closure, near Paris, brought
out protesters that clashed with police who used tear gas to suppress them. Turkey: A landslide near the Iraqi border killed four and injuried two.
United Kingdom: A crowd of about 100 attacked the police with bricks and bottles in Newtownabbey, County Antrim, they also burnt out a car and injuried 5
police officers, during a union flag protest. Asia: Malaysia: The Philippine Muslim clan who took over a village in Sabah (see the 2/28-3/1
mid-phase), called for a ceasefire that was rejected by Malasysian forces; since the fighting began, at least 60 have perished. North America: US:
A major snow storm battered the Northeast coast with wind, beach erosion and coastal flooding in many of the same areas that Hurricane Sandy had ravaged.
Along northern New Jersey, the north shore of Long Island, New York, and the east coast of Massachusetts water levels rose 2 to 4 feet (0.6 to 1.2 m)
above normal with significant coastal flooding and erosion. Elsewhere in the Northeast up to 2 feet of wet snow downed powerlines and trees, and made for
hazardous road conditions and lead to hundreds of flight cancelations. In the Southwest a storm system packed with heavy rain, thunderstorms and hail hit
parts of Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico. Heavy snowfall and rains also spread throughout southern California. Snow also spread across the highlands of
Colorado and Arizona. South Pacific: Tropical depression 19P strengthened into a Category 1 Cyclone called Cyclone Sandy that was headed towards
New Caledonia.

11th -- New Moon (19h 51m) HIGH

Europe: Various locations: A major snowstorm, along with ice and high winds, hit large parts of Europe, causinhg serious disruption to road,
railroads and airlines. In Belgium there was a 1,000 miles of traffic during rush hour due to the weather. France, Germany, England, Amsterdam, Russia
and other parts of Northern Europe were also affected. Sweden: An unusual cold wave hit with temperatures as low as 8 degress F below zero (-22 C).
Mideast: Syria: Damascus was continuously bombed by government war planes, as the opposition took parts of the capital. In Homs oppoistion
forces tried to regain control of the Baba Amr neighbourhood, as government troops attacked with artillery shells. Asia: India: A landslide
pushed a taxi into the Yamuna River, the largest tributary river of the Ganges in the north, killing ten. China: A moderate 5.2 magnitude earthquake
hit the northwest in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region damaging nearly a thousand buildings and affecting more than 3,250. Africa: Burundi: Violent
clashes broke out after police tried to block followers of a Catholic sect from praying in the Kayanza region, leaving five dead, 35 injuried and a
sanctuary destroyed. Libya: Tainted homemade alcohol in Tripoli killed 51 and sent 378 to the capital's hospitals. South America: Ecuador:
The Tungurahua volcano erupted again, spewing lava and ash that stretched up to 1.5 miles (2 km) in the air; access to the area around volcano was
restricted as a result. South Pacific: Papa New Guinea: The New Britain region of the islands was rocked by a 6.5 magnitude earthquake (03/10;
22:51:52) that was followed by tweleve aftershocks ranging from 4.6 to 5.2 in magnitude. Cyclone Sandra strengthened into a Category 4 cyclone with
wind speeds of 98 mph (157 kph) and gusts up to 120 mph (194 kph) and was set to hit the island nation of New Caledonia. North America: US: A
moderate 4.7 magnitude earthquake (03/11; 16:56:06) shook the Los Angles area with an unusually widespread area affected. Solar Activity: Active
region AR1690 on the Sun's central meridian erupted with a coronal mass ejection on the 12th.

Note: Some events from mid-March to mid-April will occur off the lunar phase aspects of the calendar, and this period tends
to be the most active time of the year. This situation is the result of a dominance of the solar-terrestrial linkage due to Earth's orbit bringing
it closer to the Sun. These events will be noted in the calendar on the nearest lunar phase date, and the date of the event will be shown.

14th-15th -- Mid-Phase MAXIMUM

Mideast: Iraq: Two car bombs, a suicide bomb and gun attacks on government buildings in Baghdad killed at least 22 and at least 50 were injuried.
Bahrain: On the second anniversary of a Saudi-led intervention violence broke out by what were called "domestic terrorists" who blocked roads, burnt cars,
and threw Molotov cocktails, and a number of homemade bombs, leaving at least 35 protesters and two police officers injuried mostly in the towns of Sitra
and Sanabis on the outskirts of Manama. Europe: Belgium: Mass protests of thousands in Brussels broke out due to government spending cuts. Heavy
snowfall again palayzed much of Europe, including Bulgaria, Poland, Slovakia, Russia and Hungary where military tanks were used to clear roads. The
following day an unusual rise in temperatures caused widespread flooding. Kosovo: Melting snow brought extensive flooding, killing at least one.
Asia: Pakistan: A bomb exploded near a police station city of Karachi, killing at least three and injuried five. Afghanistan: A huge truck bomb,
weighing nearly eight tons, was fortunately defused in Kabul. Africa: Guinea: A rare tornado struck Kobéla reaping widespread damages on the 16th.
North America: Mexico: A small truck loaded with fireworks exploded in the small village of Jesus Tepactepec, in Tlaxcala state, killing at least
12 and injuring dozens. Atlanic: Azores: A landslide in Burguete, Faial da Terra, on São Miguel island, buried homes, killing three. South
Pacific: A Tropical Cyclone Tim strengthened with sustained winds of 52 mph (83 kph) and gusts up to 63 mph (102 kph) as it was heading towards
Queensland Australia. Solar Activity: Sunspot AR1692 erupted an M1-class solar flare and a bright coronal mass ejection, and reached Earth on
the 17th triggering widespread auroras and geomagnetic storms.

19th First Quarter (17h 27m) and the 20th, Vernal Equinox MAXIMUM

Mideast: Iraq: A wave of car bombs, mostly in Shia areas of Baghdad, killed more than 50, injuried at least 200, and destroyed or severly damaged
buildings and vehicles; a number of other attempts were prevented by the army who arrested 20. Syria: A suicide bomber's blast, during evening prayers at
the Iman Mosque in central Damascus, killed 42 and wounded 84 on the 20th. Africa: Egypt: Hundreds of villagers chased two men
through the streets of Mahallat Ziyad in Gharbiya province, believing that they had kidnapped children and commited violent crimes, they were then killed
and hung on lampposts. Somalia: A suicide car bomb attack in the center of Mogadishu killed at least ten and wounded 20. Nigeria: A suicide car bomb
attack in a bus station in Kano killed at least 22 and injuried at least 65, on the 18th. Asia: Pakistan: Militants attacked a court and prison
complex in Peshawar, killing four and injuring 30, on the 18th. China: A rare tornado struck the centrally located Hunan province before dawn, killing
at least three, injuring 52 and bringing widespread damages, on the 20th. Indonesia: Mount Lokon in Tomohon of North Sulawesi erupted spewing ash and
lava up to 6,500 feet (2,000 m). Europe: Central Europe was again smothered in heavy blizzard-like snowfall. Poland: A moderate 4.7 magnitude
earthquake struck near the Rudna copper mine (03/19; 21:09:53), trapping 19 miners underground. Italy: Mount Etna erupted again spewing lava streams
and lava bombs into the air over Sicily. Turkey: A rocket and bomb hit the justice ministry and the headquarters of the governing AK Party, wounding two.
Scotland: Heavy snow and gale force winds forced school closings and smothered roadways. North America: Canada: Southern Manitoba was covered in
blizzard-like heavy snowfall that recked havoc on roadways on the 18th. US: Georgia and Mississippi were slammed by heavy hailstorms the size of
golf-balls and softballs that smashed windows of cars and buildings on the 18th. The Mideast and Northeast were again hit with heavy snowfall that closed
schools, delayed travel, obstructed roadways, triggered accidents and collapsed roofs. South America: Brazil: Heavy rains triggered landslides in
a mountainous area north of Rio de Janeiro, killing at least 27 and destroying homes and buildings; more heavy rains would follow. South Atlantic:
South Sandwich Islands: A 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit the region of the islands (03/19; 03:29:01). Solar Activity: A solar wind stream hit the
Earth's magnetic field.

22nd-23rd -- Mid-Phase MAXIMUM

Asia: Myanmar (Burma): Violence between Buddhists and Muslims in the town of Meiktila brought widespeard devastation and killed at least 20, as the
army was sent in to restore order. Thailand: A Ban Mae Surin camp fire destroyed at least 100 makeshift houses where Burmese refugees who lost their
homes were being temporarily housed, killing at least 30 and injuring at least 200. China: The southern provinces were hit with heavy storms and giant
hailstones, leaving at least 12 dead, at least 270 injuried and causing serious damage to buildings, cars and powerlines; a tornado's winds reached 110
mph (177 kph). Bangladesh: A rare tornado tore through 20 villages in the east, in the Brahmanbaria district, killing at least 21, injuring at least 200
and destroying several hundred houses, and dowining trees and powerlines. Vietnam: A powerful storm with large hailstones plummeted the Huong Khe District,
Ha Tinh Province, damaging over 100 buildings. Africa: Egypt: Protesters clashed with members of the governing Muslim
Brotherhood in Cairo, Mahalla and Alexandria, ransacking offices, throwing stones, and setting headquarters and buses on fire, leaving dozens injuried.
Central African Republic: A column of Seleka rebels approached the capital, Bangui, but were dispersed by an attack helicopter that opened fire on them.
Later they seized the presidential palace and took control of Bangui, where there was looting and sporadic gunfire. Mali: A suicide attack at a
checkpoint near the airport in Timbuktu, killed a Malian soldier. The French army also killed at least 10 militants in a later attack. The following
day, Islamist rebels attacked Gao, but were repelled after two hours of fierce fighting. Nigeria: Gunmen attacked a prison, a police station, a bar and
a bank in the town of Ganye, killing 25 and releasing a number of inmates from the prison; the gunmen were suspected to be Islamist militants, known as
the Boko Haram. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Clashes between security forces and suspected Mai Mai militia, in Lubumbashi, left at least five dead.
Europe: United Kingdom: Heavy snowfall smothered the north, with drifts as much as 18 feet high, causing road and school closures, and downing
powerlines, as high winds also buffeted the region. In the southwest there were heavy rains that brought flooding. Russia: A 6.1 magnitude earthquake
hit east of the Kuril Islands (03/24; 04:18:35). Ukraine: A unusally heavy snow storm, with blizzard conditions, covered the captial, Kiev, which was
declared in a state of emergency. Australia: New South Wales and Victoria: A rare tornado brought widespread devastation to these
two states, as one victim insightfully commented, "This is just like we're in war. Everyone's lost everything!" (BBC News). South Pacific:
Vanuatu: A magnitude 6.0 earthquake shook the island nation (03/24; 08:13:45). North America: US: A major storm swept across the Midwest --
stretching from Missouri to Pennsylvania -- dumping snow up to 18 inches (46 cm), closing highways and grounding flights. In the Southeast there
was flooding rain, severe thunderstorms, large hail and tornadoes, that reaped widespread damages. Along the East Coast there were strong winds that
lead to coastal erosion and flooding. Solar Activity: Sunspot AR1692 erupted with C- and M-class solar flares that were not Earth-directed
because of the sunspot's off-center location on the Sun's northwestern limb. The following day, an active region on the Sun's far-southern hemisphere
erupted with a bright coronal mass ejection directed away from Earth.

27th -- Full Moon (9h 27m) MAXIMUM

Asia: Taiwan: A 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit damaging buildings, triggering a fire, and killing at least one and injurying at least 19 (03/27;
02:03:20). Afghanistan: Numerous attacks across the country left 52 Taliban members dead, 45 wounded and 21 arrested. Myanmar: Clashes between
Buddhists and Muslims once again erupted, killing at least 40, and prompting the government to declare a state of emergency and impose curfews.
Vietnam: A brief storm with hailstones up to four inches (10 cm) plummetted Lao Cai province, damaging more than 10,000 buildings and injuring at least 26.
Phillipines: An unusual waterspout caused an overloaded boat to capsize in southern marshes, killing 12. Tibet: A gold mining area was engilfed by a
landslide, killing at least 83, on the 29th. Africa: Central African Republic: Days after a coup looters roamed the streets of the capital,
robbing hospitals and generating widespread chaos; many sick and injuried were afraid to go to hospitals. Madagascar: A severe plague of locusts infested
about half of the country, threatening huge crop losses and limiting food supplies -- fears were that it could last five to ten years. Nigeria: Heavy
rains drenched the town of Adoka, destroying over 200 houses and huts, farmland and other property. North America: US: A landslide on Whidbey
Island, Washington damaged one home and isolated or threatened more than two dozen others. Lingering snowcover and additional waves of cold weather
delayed the planting of crops in the Midwest and Northeast. Mexico: Hundreds of armed vigilantes occupied the town of Tierra Colorada in Guerrero
state after one of their leaders was killed; they blamed the police chief who was suspended to be investigated, causing them to withdraw from the town.
Solar Activity: A coronal hole opened on the Sun's northern hemisphere sending a solar wind into space. It was expected to reach Earth in about
three to four days.

30th-31st -- Mid-Phase MAXIMUM

Mideast: Iraq: Suicide car bomb blasts in Baghdad and Kirkuk left at least 19 dead and 100 wounded, on the 29th. Asia: Pakistan: A
suicide bomb blast near the US Consulate in Peshawar killed 10 and injuried 31, on the 29th; the Taliban claimed responsibility. Japan: A 6.0
magnitude earthquake hit Honsu (04/01; 18:53:17) -- the area hit by the tsunami in 2012 -- it was followed by 14 aftershocks. Africa:
Mauritius: Sudden heavy rains brought flooding to Port Louis killing at least 11, injuring at least 82, and doing widespread damages. Mali: The
Malian army fought with Islamist rebels in Timbuktu after a suicide bomber tried to attack an army checkpoint, killing at least two. Nigeria: Nigerian
troops killed 14 suspected Islamist rebels, known as Boko Haram, in a raid on a building in Kano. Tanzania: A multi-storey building collapsed in the
city of Dar es Salaam, killing at least 17 and 45 were still missing, on the 29th. Europe: United Kingdom: The 31st was the coldest temperature
on record for that date with a temperature of 9.5 F (-12.5 C). Spain: Heavy rains caused rivers to overflow which lead to a bridge collapse in the
province of Toledo and other overflowing rivers lead to evacuations, six were left dead. Serbia: Strone winds, in what was described as a tornado, hit
the village of Torda, causing extensive damages to over 100 structures. South Pacific: New Zealand: Hokitika, on the west coast, was torn up by a
rare tornado that damaged buildings. South America: Brazil: A floating port on the Amazon river, in Amapa state, collapsed and sunk leaving six
missing. Argentia: Torrential rain and powerful winds hit Buenos Aires, killing five, downing powerlines and trees, as well as damaging homes.
North America: US: A heavy fog on Interstate Highway 77, near the southern border of Virgina, lead to a 90 vehicle pileup, killing at least
five and injuring at least 25. An Exxon-Mobil oil pipeline ruptured in Arkansas flooding homes and waterways with crude oil. Violent thunderstorms
across the Deep South and Texas brought golf-ball-sized hail, blinding downpours, lightning and damaging winds that reaped widespread damage. Solar
Activity: A geomagnetic storm shook the Earth's magnetic field, sparking bright auroras. A large, farside sunspot, that hurled multiple coronal
mass ejections toward Venus a week ago, rotated onto the Earthside of the Sun.

April

3rd -- Last Quarter (4h 36m) MAXIMUM

Mideast: Israel/Gaza (Palestine): A rocket was shot from Gaza into Israel causing minor damage hours after airstrikes by Israel in Gaza; an
al-Qaeda linked group claimed responsibility. Syria/Lebanon: A Syrian helicopter crossed into Lebanon firing two rockets near a town where there
were thousands of Syrian refugees. Asia: Afghanistan: A suicide bombing and gunfire at a courthouse in Farah killed more than 50 people and
injured 90; the Taliban claimed responsibility. Myanmar (Burma): Violence between Buddhists and Muslims again brokeout, killing at least 20 schoolboys
and causing thousands more to flee the troubled area, most of them from the Rohingya Muslim minority. India: An off season heavy rain with thunderstorms
and hail lashed parts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rayalaseema regions, killing six and destroying crops over more than 44,000 acres (18,000 HA).
Africa: Kenya: Torrential rains displaced thousands of people throughout the country. Zimbabwe: A powerful hailstorm thrashed the city of Gwanda
destroying hundreds of homes. Europe: Latvia: Two ice floes broke off from the coast and were blown by strong winds into the Gulf of Riga and off
the coast of Jurmala, helicopters and boats carried more than 220 people to safety. South America: Argentia: One of the heaviest storms on record
hit Buenos Aires and La Plata, killing at least 59, as thousands fled their homes, and floodwaters set an oil refinery ablaze and carried away thousands
of cars; many spent nights on roof tops. More than 350,000 were affected in Buenos Aires alone, and in only a few hours 16 inches (40 cm) of rain fell
on La Plata, and at least 100,000 homes were destroyed. North America: US: Soaking, heavy rain drenched portions of the Deep South with flooding,
accompanied by thunderstorms, strong winds and hail. Fargo, North Dakota, braced for a major Red River flooding, the fourth time in five years, which
will match or exceed previous record levels.

6th-7th -- Mid-Phase MAXIMUM

Mideast: Iraq: A suicide bomb and grenade attack in Baquba killed at least 22 and injuried at least 50. United Arab Emirates: Areas of Dubai and
Abu Dhabi were covered by a major sandstorm. Egypt: The funerals of four Coptic Christians killed in religious violence were followed by a clash when a
mob attacked the mourners as they exited the cathedral, hitting them with stones and gasoline bombs, leaving at least 80 injuried. Asia: Malyasia:
Torrential rain plummeted Penang, causing a landslide and flash floods in several low-lying areas. Indonesia: Papau New Guinea was shook by a 7.0
magnitude earthquake (04/06; 04:42:36). Afghanistan: A NATO airstrike in Shigal left 11 children and one woman dead, and injuried six. In a separate
incident, a suicide bomber crashed a car into another, killing six; the car was delivering books to schools. India: A building still under construction
collapsed in Thane, killing at least 74 and injuring dozens, on the 5th. China: At least six had died as the result of a new strain of bird flu, leading
officials to destroy more than 20,000 birds from a live-poultry trading zone in Shanghai. Africa: Nigeria: In an ambush, gunmen attacked a police
boat in the creeks of the Niger Delta, killing 12 police officers; the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) claimed responsibility, the
attack was the result of their leader's jailing in South Africa. In a separate incident, assailants used guns and machetes in an attack targeting the
deputy governor of Adamawa state, in Mildu village, killing eleven. Central Africa Republic: People continued to flee the unrest into mostly the Democratic
Republic of Congo, and others into Chad and Cameroon, making the total of refugees 137,000 over the last four months. Europe: Russia: A 6.2 magnitude
earthquake hit the eastern border with Northeast China (04/05; 13:00:02). Italy: Mount Etna erupted with unexpected volcanic activity near the summit,
making many residents fearful. Albania: The northwest part of the country was engulfed by incessant rains that brought severe flooding that swamped hundreds
of homes and knocked power. North America: US: Strongest thunderstorms unleashed damaging winds, large hail, frequent lightning, downpours and
tornadoes across the central and southern Plains -- affecting 12 states -- wrecking havoc for days following and reaping widespread destruction. Strong
winds, ranging from 35 to 75 mph (56-121 kph), were to whip through southern Nevada, the deserts of Southern California, eastern Arizona and western New
Mexico, wrecking havoc. Solar Activity: A weak solar wind stream buffeted the Earth's magnetic field.

10th -- New Moon (9h 35m) MAXIMUM

Mideast: Iran: A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck near the contry's only nuclear power station, killing 37 and injuring 850, as it ruined the city
of Kaki, and seriously damaging the cities of Kormouj, Dayer and Kangan, and the villages of Shanbe and Sana (04/09; 11:52:50); for two days it was
followed by 21 aftershocks ranging from 4.1 to 5.6 in magnitude. Syria: Government planes underwent deliberate air strikes against civilians and
indiscriminate attacks on cities, towns and neighborhoods under the control of opposition forces, hitting bakeries, hospitals and the like. Africa:
Kenya: A major hailstorm pelted Saoset village, in the west, destroying a 21-acre tea plantation. South Sudan: An ambush took place in Jonglei, killing
at least 12, as some remained missing, on the 9th. Asia: North Korea: Tensions mounted as the nation prepared to lauch a mid-range missle, prompting
Japan to deploy anti-missle batteries. China: The bird flu claimed its nine victim and the number of sick reached to 28, as Kentucky Fried Chicken in the
country had sales fall in fear. Indonesia: Heavy rains flooded the island of Java, displacing thousands from their homes and killing eleven.
Indian Ocean: A tropical storm with sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph) and gusts of 105 mph (170 kph) headed
towards Mauritius and Rodrigues islands. North America: US: Severe storms stretched from Indiana to New Jersey bringing gusty winds, large hail,
lightning, flash flooding and tornadoes. An April blizzard brought severe storms and wild temperature swings of 60 degrees in as little as ten hours
from Colorado and Wyoming to Nebraska and South Dakota. The Rapid City Airport, in North Dakota, got the snowiest day on record with 20 inches (50 cm),
Harrison, Nebraska got 24 inches (60 cm), and nearly 50 record snowfall totals blanketed the Plains. Walnut-sized hail brought massive damage to parts of
Nebraska. Meanwhile, the South and the East Coast had record high temperatures, but was then hit with severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, as temperatures
dropped. There were nine tornadoes, the worst of which was in Hemper County, Mississippi, where an EF-2 hit with winds in excess of 135 mph (217 kph); a
total of three were killed, leaving widespread destruction and power outages. Saint Louis, Missouri, was hit with three tornadoes. Akron, Ohio, was
flooded, as the Upper Midwest was buried in a foot or more of snow. Solar Activity: Sunspots AR1718 and AR1719 developed magnetic fields
that harbored energy for energetic, M-class flares. A solar wind stream was expected to hit Earth's magnetic field on the 10th or 11th. Sunspot AR1719
erupted with a powerful M6-class solar flare on the 11th, producing a coronal mass ejection that was likely to hit Earth in a few days.

Mid 14th-Mid 15th -- Mid-Phase MAXIMUM

Mideast: Iraq: Deadly bombings hit the cities of Baghdad, Tuz Khurmatu, Kirkuk, Nasariyah, Fallujah, Tikrit, Samarra and Hilla, killing at least 47
and injuring at least 257. They were coordinated attacks that took place during the morning rush hour, and involved 20 car bombs and three roadside bombs.
Syria and Lebanon: Artillery shells hit the Lebanese border village of Qasr, destroying several homes, injuring three and killing a boy. Lebanon then
deployed troops near its border. Syria: In other incidents, two government air strikes hit a rebellious Damascus suburb, killing at least nine children,
and the second hit rebel-held areas in the Kurdish-majority Hasaka province, killing at least 16. Bahrain: A car bomb explosed in the capital of Manama,
the opposition group called the "February 14 movement" claimed responsibility. Iran-Pakistan: A 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the Iran-Pakistan border
region near the south-eastern city of Khash, killing at least one in Iran, and at least 35 were killed and 150 injuried in Pakistan (04/16; 10:44:21); hundreds
of houses were destroyed and the tremors were felt across Pakistan, India and the Middle East. Europe: Switzerland: An avalanche slammed into a group
of hikers that were climbing the Trugbergs, killing three. Asia: China: The toll of humans infected by the bird flu rose to 60 and another 13 have
died, as the new bird flu strain reached Beijing. India: An avalache hit the mountainous Darra Kujjan-Uri of the frontier of the Baramulla district, in
Kasmir, killing three. Thailand: A tropical storm headed to the town of Surin where it ripped roofs off of houses, and destroyed more than 150 houses,
barns, mills and livestock farms. Africa: Somalia: Suicide bombings and gun attacks in the capital, Mogadishu, killed at least 29 and injuried at
least 58; a foreign al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group carried out the attacks. Central African Republic: The Seleka rebel group, who captured power more than three
weeks ago, came under attack by residents which lead to widespread clashes that left at least 17 dead and brought about widespread looting in the capital,
Bangui. Ivory Coast: A rare tornado the village of Parhadi, causing extensive damages and ripping homes apart.
South Pacific: The Bougainville Region of Papua New Guinea was shook by a 6.6 magnitude earthquake (04/14; 01:32:23) and a second 6.8
quake also struck (04/16; 22:55:27 ). The island nation of Vanuatu was rattled by a 6.0 magnitude earthquake (04/13; 22:49:50). Tropical storm Imelda
strengthened into a Category One cyclone and then into a Category Two cyclone with sustained winds of 86 mph (139 kph) and gusts of 104 mph (167 kph)
after it swept past Rodrigues Island. North America: US: Two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing at least three,
and injuring at least 176 -- 17 critically. A major heavy snowfall swpet North Dakota and Minnesota closing a 100-mile stretch of highway. Another major
storm brought heavy snow to the Rocky Mountains and the Plains that was expected to last for days. Two avalanches struck the Cascade Mountains in
Washington state, killing one and leaving one missing; the snowfall was too great to undergo rescue efforts. South America: Peru: Heavy rains
were believed to have lead to a bus tumbling 655 feet (200 m) down a cliff in the mountainous highlands, killing at least 30. Chile: More than 100,000
students protested for education reforms, as riot police fired tear gas and water cannons to break up the march, while some protesters threw gasoline
bombs, vandilized property and scuffled with police; eight police were injuried. Solar Activity: A coronal mass ejection hit the Earth's magnetic
field late on the 13th (22:55 UT), setting off electrical currents in the ground around the Arctic Circle. Auroras could be seen as far as Virginia.

18th -- First Quarter (12h 31m) HIGH

Mideast: Iraq: A suicide bomber detonated inside a cafe in the west of Baghdad, killing at least 27 and injuring dozens. Bahrain: New clashes
erupted as protesters blocked roads with barricades made of burning tires, protesting that they wanted an international car race to be cancelled due to
the country's poor human rights record. Syria: Opposition forces captured a military base in the strategic Homs province and violence erupted along the
border with Jordan. Europe: Greece: After requesting salaries that had not been paid at a strawberry farm, the owner and foreman opened fire injuring
about 30 workers. Asia: China: The number of bird-flu cases rose to 83. Hunan Province was pelted with strong hailstorms, killing at least three.
India: A bomb laden motorcycle explode in Bangalore, near an office of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, injuring at least 16 and damaging or
destroying vehicles and buildings, on the 17th. Severe weather hit West Bengal with winds of 72 mph (116 kph) damaging property, disrupting transportation
and uprooting hundreds of trees, and killing at least eight; late in the evening on the 17th. Europe: Russia: The Kuril islands were shaken by a
7.2 magnitude earthquake (04/19; 03:05:54) and a 6.0 magnitude earthquake (04/19; 19:58:41) east of the islands. Africa: Kenya: Armed attackers
targeted a hotel in the town of Garissa, killing eight and injuring at least five. Guinea: Clashes between police and protesters angried over the date
proposed for government legislative elections, as it did not include the opposition; protesters threw rocks and police threw tear gas. South
America: Argentina: Dozens of fans disappointed with the Argentine football club Huracan's performance stormed the club's locker rooms and beat
some players, stole belongings and damaged their cars. North America: US: A fertilizer plant in West, Texas, exploded with such force that it was
like a 2.1 magnitude earthquake. The blast killed 14, and injuried at least 160, while destroying at least 80 homes and other buildings, and leading to
the evacuation of the town; 35 to 40 people were unaccounted for. In Wyoming a lingering snow storm closed hundreds of miles of highway and blanketed the
state. Tornadoes hit parts of Oklahoma and Georgia. Damaging thunderstorms swept from Detroit and Indianapolis to Tennessee and Mississippi, bringing
tornadoes, flash floods, strong lightning, hail, mudslides and damaging winds. Extensive flooding in 12 states plagued the Midwest, killing three. A
late night shoot out took place between the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, leading to the death of one and the capture of the other brother. Solar
Activity: A coronal hole formed on the Sun's northern hemisphere, sending a stream of solar wind into space towards the Earth.

21st-22nd -- Mid-Phase HIGH

Mideast: Syria: The government army seized the town of Jdaidet al-Fadl, near Damascus, killing at least 100, many of which were civlians. A record
number of bodies were found on the 21st, totaling 566 dead, as the Syrian army said it "inflicted heavy losses"; there was widespread destruction of
buildings and roads. Iraq: A clash in Hawija between the army and gunmen killed at least 28 and injuried more than 70, after the army was said to have
assualted peaceful Sunni protesters. Europe: Russia: The Kuril islands were shaken by a 6.1 magnitude earthquake (04/20; 13:12:51). Asia:
China: A 6.6 magnitude earthquake jolted western Sichuan (04/20; 00:02:47), killing at least 207, injuring at least 11,500 (960 seriously) and leaving
widespread destruction; tens of thousands sought shelter in tents or cars, as more than 1,300 aftershocks (21 had magnitudes between 4.4 and 5.1) shook
Sichuan for two days. The number of bird flu cases rose to 102. A landslide in Guizhou Province left at least six dead, two injuried and five missing.
Japan: A 6.1 magnitude earthquake rattled the Izu Islands (04/21; 03:22:17). Afghanistan: A militant attack on a checkpoint in Ghazni province left at
least 13 Afghan pro-government fighters dead. Africa: Nigeria: Intense fighting took place in the north between the military and the Boko Haram
Islamist militants, leaving at least 185 dead and the town of Baga about 40% destroyed by fire. North America: US: An avalanche swept down a
mountain in Loveland Pass of Colorado's White River National Forest, killing five snowboarders, on the 20th. River flooding reached record levels along
parts of several major rivers from Michigan to Tennessee. Another snowstorm spread across parts of the Rockies, northern Plains and the Upper Midwest,
including areas already covered in snow, hampering travel and creating dangerous conditions. Severe thunderstorms pounded areas from southern Kansas to
Texas, Arkansas and Missouri. Another round of rain drenched the already severe historic flooding throughout the Midwest. North Atlantic: Haiti:
Two days of heavy rains brought flooding to the town of Petit Goave, killing at least one and wrecking extensive damages. South Pacific: Papua New
Guinea: A 6.5 magnitude earthquake shook the north of Rabaul (04/23; 23:14:42). Solar Activity: Sunspot AR1726 grew rapidly and developed a
magnetic field that harbored energy for M-class and X-class flares that would be Earth-directed.

25th -- Full Moon (4h 25m) HIGH

Mideast: Iraq: Clashes in Mosul between anti-government protesters and police left at least 10 policemen and 30 gunmen dead in Sunni-dominated areas.
Syria: Heavy fighting took place between the opposition and government forces as they fought to take control of a military airbase near the northern city
of Aleppo, on the 24th; the number of causlities was not known. It was discovered that Syrian forces used chemical weapons on a small scale, prompting
possible action by US and NATO forces. Asia: Afghanistan: A moderate 5.7 magnitude earthquake shook the eastern areas of Nangarhar and Kunar
provinces (04/24; 09:25:30), destroying mud homes, killing at least 18 and injuring at least 114; rainy weather weakened the mud construction. In the
north, Balkh and Baloshistan provinces were hit with heavy rains that triggered flooding, killing 24, late on the 24th. Bangladesh: An eight-story
building collapsed in Dhaka, killing at least 1,127, making it the worst in history; more than 2,000 were rescued. Burma: Demonstrations by villagers
against a Chinese-backed copper mine in the northwest left seven policemen and three protesters injured after about 100 villagers tried to cultivate the
land near the mine's expansion. China: Heavy rains drenched the southeast, including Hong Kong, causing flooding and landslides. Philippines: Gunmen
undertook an ambush on a local mayor in the south, killing at least ten. South America: Ecuador: A landslide hit the town of Tabete, burying homes
that killed at least 14. North America: US: Much of the upper Midwest was covered in flood waters and more rain plummeted the region, causing evacuations.
Thunderstorms with hail as large as quarters up to the size of golf balls, heavy rains and winds up to 60 mph (97 kph) struck parts of Oklahoma, Texas and
Arkansas. More flooding would follow. South Pacific: Kermadec Islands region was shaken by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake (04/26; 06:53:29).
Solar Activity: Sunspot AR1726 remained active with a magnetic field that harbored energy for powerful M-class and X-class flares, though the
sunspot turned away from Earth.

28th-29th -- Mid-Phase MODERATE

Mideast: Iraq: Sunni anti-government protests took place across the north and west, prompting a ban on ten satellite stations for "inciting violence".
The violence brought the death toll to more than 170 within a week. The next day five car bombs hit Shia-majority provinces, killing at least 25 and
injuring dozens. Libya: Trucks armed with anti-aircraft guns blocked off roads to the foreign ministry in an attempt to ban jobs for Gaddafi-era
officials. Syria: A car bomb blast in the upscale Mazzeh district of Damascus targeted Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi's motorcade, killing several
government and opposition people, and destroying buildings. Saudia Arabia: Heavy rains and accomanying flash floods overwhelmed the northwest, killing
at least 24. Europe: Czech Republic: An explosion ripped through a building in a historic district of central Prague, injuring 35. The source of
the explosion was not known, but was beleived to be gas and not terrorist. France: An explosion lead to the collapse of an apartment building in Reims,
killing at least three and injuring 14. Asia: Bangladesh: The eight-story building that collapsed in Dhaka on the 25th (see previous Lunar Phase),
killing at least 1,127, caught fire after rescuers cut metal to get to a trapped survivor. Pakistan: Bomb attacks on the political offices in Kohat and
Peshawarby were carried out by the Taliban, killing at least eight and injuring 23. The following day a suicide bomb attack hit Peshawar, killing at
least eight and injuring 40, and destroying buildings and vehicles. Africa: Mali: A roadside bomb blast killed a French paratrooper and seriously
injuried two. China: Heavy rain in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region triggered floods and landslides, killing six and affecting more than 420,000.
North America: US: Rising temperatures across much of North Dakota and Minnesota caused snow to melt releasing nearly half-a-year's worth of water
stored in winter snowpack and bringing even more water to the flooding Red River. Severe thunderstorms across most of Georgia through Tennessee and
Alabama brought destructive flash flooding to an already drenched Southeast. The flooding trapped drivers in their cars as a wall of water swept roads
and highways. The storms also produced damaging wind gusts and golf-ball-sized hail that brought widespread destruction. Canada: Heavy rains brought
floods to Saskatchewan causing states of emergency to be declared in five communities. South Pacific: Tropical storm Zane strengthened into a
Category 1 Cyclone with sustained winds of 69 mph (111 kph) and gusts up to 86 mph (139 kph), as it headed towards norteast Australia. Solar
Activity: Sunspot AR1726 remained active with a magnetic field that harbored energy for powerful X-class solar flares, but moved to the Sun's farside
away from Earth and towards Mercury and Mars.

May

2nd -- Last Quarter (11h 14m) MODERATE

Mideast: Saudi Arabia: A Sars-like virus (novel coronavirus), that causes pneumonia and sometimes kidney failure, infected seven, killing five.
Heavy rains brought flash floods to the capital Riyadh, Baha in the south, Hail in the north and in the west of the country, killing at least 13; four
were missing. Iraq: Two attacks by militants on anti-al-Qaeda Sunni militia, near the city of Fallujah, left at least 22 dead and 27 injuried. Syria:
Government forces attacked the city of Banias, killing between 50 and 100. Asia: Thailand: A gun attack at a village shop in Pattani province by
four gunman, left six dead. The attack came after peace talks between Muslim separatists and the Thai government. Burma (Myanmar): Renewed religious
violence erupted in Oakkan, as Buddhist mobs killed one, set on fire at least 77 homes, and attacked mosques. Heavy rains in the east triggered
landslides that killed at least sixteen. Africa: Chad: Government forces foiled a coup against President Idriss Deby, in the capital, N'Djamena,
killing at least four and possibly eight. Sudan: A well collapsed at a gold mine in the Darfur region, at least 60 miners were feared dead. Kenya:
Heavy rains brought widespread flooding that killed at least 79, injuried 19 and diplaced more than 99,000 in various locations. Uganda: In the worst
flooding since 1976, the River Nyamwamba overflowed its banks displacing almost 1,800 and killed seven in town of Kasese. Central America:
Guatemala: The government declared a state of emergency in four regions after clashes between police and anti-mining protesters erupted; the protesters
feared that the Canadian-owned mine would drain their water supplies. North America: US: Strong Santa Ana winds fanned flames across more than
28,000 acres of the San Bernardino mountains, about 90 miles (145 km) east of Los Angeles, California. Hundreds of fire fighters struggled to control
the fire that was consuming homes around two towns. Then the winds shifted towards the coastal beaches and shifted again into canyons, making it a worst
case scenario, causing the fire to consumer more than 44 square miles. A total of six wildfires brought out more than 3,000 fire fighters.
Historic, record May snowfall brought up to two feet (610 mm) in the central Rockies, and reached even more unlikely locations in the Plains, Midwest and
the South. Cities and towns in Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota were clobbered with snowfalls unheard of, with records that date back to the 1800s. Solar
Activity: At least two sunspots, AR1730 and AR1731, showed signs of an eruption of a M-class solar flare. Near the center of the solar disk, sunspot
AR1731's eruption would be Earth-directed. The following day a major M-5 Class solar flare and a coronal mass ejection exploded from the Sun and would
reach Earth in a few days.

mid-5th-mid-7th -- Mid-Phase MODERATE

Mideast: Syria and Israel: Israel launched two air strikes on Damascus where it was believed that weapons were being transported to Hamas from Iran.
This triggered fears that the region would become a battleground between Iran and Hezbollah, and Israel. Iraq: Three bombings near police checkpoints and
a restaurant, and a grenade attack on a mosque in Baghdad left at least 17 dead and at least 33 wounded. Asia: Pakistan: A bomb exploded near a
political rally in Islamabad, killing at least 27 and injuring at least 56. Bangladesh: Police and paramilitary troops battled with tens of thousands of
Islamist protesters who laid waste to Dhaka, which was made desolate and destroyed, and killed at least fourteen. Afghanistan and Pakistan: Afghan and
Pakistani troops clashed across the border, killing one and injuring two; the Afghan government has an ongoing border dispute with Pakistan. Philippines:
Mount Mayon, southeast of Manila, erupted, spewing a cloud of ash and hugh rocks into the sky, and killing five and injuring seven climbers. China: Heavy
rains for days eventually triggered flooding and a landslide in Hunan Province, killing six. Europe: France: Heavy rains brought widespread
flooding to areas around the major river basins of Allier, Saone, Yonne, Seine, Marne, and Loire. Russia: Protesters numbering in the thousands crowded
Bolotnaya Square in protest of president Putin, during the anniversary of a confrontation between opposition activists and the police. Italy: A rare
tornado touched down in two provinces near Bologna, causing millions in damages, and injuring at least 12, on the 4th. A ship crashed into a control
tower in the port of Genoa, killing at least three; several are missing. Africa: Somalia: A car bomb attack on a motorcade carrying a Qatari
delegation killed at least eight in Mogadishu; the Islamist militia Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility. Tanzania: An explosion at a new Roman Catholic
church in the city of Arusha wounded at least sixty; four Saudi nationals and four Tanzanians were arrested in connect with the bombing. Mali: Fighting
broke out between Christians and Muslims at a Wukari leader's funeral, killing at least 39, on the 4th. Nigeria: Coordinated attacks by the militant
Boko Haram in the northeast burned a police station, military barracks and government buildings to the ground, freed 105 prisoners, and during the
attacks 55 were killed -- a combination of police, prison wardens, civilians and Boko Haram. North America: Mexico: A gas tanker truck exploded
on a highway in a suburb of Mexico City, killing at least 20 people and injuring 36; at least 30 homes and 20 cars were damaged. US: Heavy rain rolled
through Northwest North Carolina, causing flooding and rock slides, and contibuting to two deaths involving hazardous roads and a mudslide. Solar
Activity: A fast solar wind stream triggered auroras that could be seen as far south as Minnesota.

10th -- New Moon (0h 28m) MODERATE

Europe: Russia: A 71-car train carrying explosive chenicals caught on fire as it passed through Belaya Kalitva station, near the Ukrainian border,
resulting in a blast that injured at least 50 people, and hurled debris six stories high and about 330 feet (100 m) away. Mideast: Iran: A 6.0
magnitude earthquake hit Minab (05-10; 19:08:11), as well as fifteen moderate earthquakes ranging from 4.7 to 5.3 in magnitude, damaging villages, and
killing at least one and injuring at least twenty. Asia: China: A landslide in Ya'an, in Sichuan Province, slammed into three cars, killing at
least three and critically injuring four, late on the 9th. Indian Ocean: A tropical depression began strengthening as it headed for Myanmar (Burma)
and Bangladesh. India: Heavy rainfall hit the northeast that triggered a landslide the following day, killing at least 17 in the town of Aizwal.
Africa: Uganda: The western part of the country was overwhelmed with the worst flooding since 1976, as rivers overflowed, forcing
thousands from their homes and washing away crops, and killing at least eight. North America: US: Powerful thunderstorms brought flash flooding,
damaging wind gusts and hail as they moved through the South, from New Mexico and Texas through to the Florida Panhandle. A number of tornadoes also
struck the region. Thunderstorms also swept parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and upstate New York, bringing damaging wind
gusts, hail, heavy downpours and flash flooding. This system then swept the East Coast from North Carolina through to New York. A tornado tossed trailers
about and damaged buildings in Boston, Massachusetts. Mexico: The Popocatepetl volcano near Mexico City began to increase in earthqauke activity, raising
the alert level for a possible eruption. South Pacific: A 6.5 magnitude earthquake shook Neiafu in the Tonga islands (05-11; 13:46:56). Solar
Activity: A sunspot situated behind the Sun's northeastern limb erupted, producing an M3-class solar flare. In the following days the Sun would turn
towards Earth.

mid-13th-mid-15th -- Mid-Phase MODERATE

Mideast: Syria: Government soldiers took control of the village of Western Dumayna and captured three villages in Homs province; no reports were
given on causualties. Iraq: Men carrying guns with silencers attacked a row of alcohol shops in Baghdad, killing twelve. Europe: Turkey: Reyhanli,
a town near Syria's border, was bombed, killing at least 47 and wounding at least 100, on the 12th; the government blamed Marxists with Syrian connections
for the attacks. Turkey's southern coastal province of Mersin was torn by a rare tornado that struck a construction site, killing two and injuring 19.
France: Fans and riot police clashed amid celebrations of Paris Saint-Germain's first French football league title in 19 years, injuring at least 30 and
damaging ptoperty. Asia: Afghanistan: An insurgent attack took lace on a base in the south, killing three Georgian soldiers who were part of the
NATO-led forces. A roadside bomb in Kandahar exploded, killing at least ten and injuring a dozen. Soldiers in a convoy in Kandahar were also hit by a
roadside bomb, killing 15 and wounding several. China: Flooding and landslides in the south, caused by heavy rains, left at least
70 dead and many missing; hardest hit was Guangdong province. North Indian Ocean: A tropical depression gained strength to become Category One,
Tropical Cyclone Mahasen with wind speeds of 58 mph (93 kph) and gusts of 75 mph (120 kph), as it headed towards Northern India, Myanmar (Burma) and
Bangladesh. Boats, carrying about 100 passengers, were evacuating people ahead of powerful Cyclone Mahasen when the boats capsized off western Myanmar
(Burma), where at least 50 Rohingya Muslims drowned. Later it hit the Bay of Bengal devastating Bangladesh and Myanmar where it destroyed thousands of
homes and killed at least 80. Africa: Libya: A car bomb exploded near a hospital in the city of Benghazi, killing at least ten -- though the toll
is not clear as there were many body parts -- and dozens were injuried, as it also totally destroyed a restaurant and seriously damaged buildings.
Nigeria: Thirteen villages were burnt in the central state of Benue, killing 53 and injuring dozens, causing President Goodluck Jonathan to declare a
state of emergency in three states where Islamist militants attacked. Rwanda: A four-story building in the northeastern city of Nyagatare collapsed,
trapping more than 100 -- at least two were killed and 21 were injuried. North America: US: A whole subdivision in Lakeport, Northern California,
comprising about 30 homes was consumed by a sinkhole, the cause of which was unknown. In Minnesota, ice of about ten miles (16 km) of an lake shoreline
was blown into houses, leading to evacuations and damages. Record high temperatures would follow, flooding the houses. In Souix City, Iowa the
temperature went from 29 degrees F to 106 degrees F. Alaska's Pavlof Volcano erupted spewing lava, ash, steam and gas, and would continue to do so for
days. Granbury, Texas was torn apart by at least 16 tornadoes, one of which was an EF-4 with winds in excess of 200 mph (322 kph), killing at least six,
and destroying large parts of the city; seven were also missing. Canada: More than a dozen homes were destroyed by a 20-foot wall of lake ice being blown
from Manitoba lake. South America: Venezuela: President Nicolas Maduro launched a massive security plan, involving at least 3,000 soldiers, to curb
street crime. North Pacific: Mariana Islands were shaken by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake (05-13; 17:32:25). Solar Activity: Sunspot AR1748
erupted with a number of major solar flares: An X1.7-class flare was quickly followed by an X2.8-class flare on the 13th, and an X3.2-class flare exploded
on the 14th. Each sent a coronal mass ejection into space, which likely to hit NASA's Epoxi and Spitzer spacecrafts on the 15th or 16th. These were the
strongest flares of the year, triggering more events on Earth than usual -- see the following lunar phase, as well. The first noctilucent clouds --
electric-blue night-shining clouds -- appeared in the upper atmosphere, much earlier than other years; they a interconnected with the Sun.

18th -- First Quarter (4h 34m) LOW

Mideast: Iraq: Gunmen attacked a police station in the north, in the town of Rawa, killing at least three and wounding two policemen. Another
attack took place in the nearby town of Haditha, killing seven policemen, and gunmen in Anbar kidnapped about 10 policemen at a checkpoint in Ramadi.
Syria: Government forces went on an offensive to recapture the opposition's stronghold in the town of Qusair, killing between 50 and 70 of the opposition.
Europe: Serbia: Fans of the city's Partizan and Red Star teams clashed at a match in Belgrade, leading to the arrest of 104, injuring several and
damaging property, late on the 18th. Russia: Twenty-six earthquakes ranging from 4.5 to 5.9 in magnitude hit southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy.
Asia: China: More heavy wind and rain pelted Guangdong, causing more flooding for the area that already had nine cities flooded, affecting nearly
900,000, killing about 70 and destroying at least 2,675 houses. Japan: A 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit the city of Namie (05-17; 22:47:59).
Africa: Tunisia: Authorities banned a Salafist group from holding its annual meeting saying it posed a threat to public security, which lead to
clashes between police and hundreds of hardline Islamists; one was left dead and at least 15 were injuried. Nigeria: Government troops underwent an
offensive against the Islamist militants of Boko Haram, killing at least 14 and capturing at least 20; the Boko Haram began leaving the country in large
numbers as a result. North America: US: Tornadoes ripped through parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, causing widespread destruction. The huge
storm system would continue for three days, devastating an area from the Plains to the Midwest, bringing flooding, large hail, damaging winds, at
least 51 tornadoes, and affecting more than 148 million. The worst was a EF-5 tornado with winds stronger than 200 mph (322 kph) that tore a path 1.3
miles (2.1 km) wide destroying most of Moore City, Oklahoma, killing at least 24 and injuring at least 120. The tornado dwarfed the power of the atomic
bomb that leveled Hiroshima, Japan in World War II. Damages where projected to reach $2 Billion. Solar Activity: An M3-class solar flare exploded
from sunspot AR1748 hitting Earth's magnetic field with a coronal mass ejection on the 18th and 19th, and sparking geomagnetic storms as widespread
auroras descended as far south as Pawnee Buttes, Colorado.

21st-22nd -- Mid-Phase LOW

Mideast: Syria and Israel: Both countries' forces exchanged fire across the ceasefire line in Golan Heights. Syria and Lebanon: Syrian opposition
forces (aka, the Free Syrian Army) fired rockets targeting Hezbollah locations in Lebanon, as Hezbollah has joined with Syrian forces against them. Syria:
These events indicate that the Syrian war is beginning to spread into surrounding countries and become a regional war. Iraq: Renewed bomb attacks killed
at least 23, and two car bombs left widespread destruction in Tuz Khurmato, a day after a wave of bombings across the country left at least 70 dead. Other
events included a car bomb that exploded near a Sunni mosque in Baghdad, killing at least 10, a bomb exploded in a cattle market in Kirkuk, and a suicide
bomber struck in the town of Tarmiyah. The following day, gunmen opened fire in a brothel in Baghdad, killing twelve. Lebanon: Fighting between Alawite
supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Sunnis Muslims, left 12 dead and 70 wounded in Tripoli. Europe: Russia: Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy,
on the Kamchetka Peninsula, was hit by two 6.0 magnitude earthquakes (05-20; 22:43 and 05-20; 21:59) and a 8.3 magnitude (05-23; 22:44), which were among
another 32 quakes with magnitudes ranging from 4.5 to 5.9. Sweden: A man was shot death by police, causing 3 nights of riots between youth and police in
Stockholm, where more than 100 vehicles were set on fire. Asia: China: Heavy rains triggered flooding and landslides in Hong Kong, which issued
closures of schools and some public services. Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo: Fighting between government and opposition forces in Goma,
left at least 19 dead. South Africa: Security guards fired rubber bullets at a crowd of striking workers at the Lanxess chrome mine, injuring ten miners.
North America: US: Strong thunderstorms swept from Texas to Louisiana to Arkansas, which also brought large hail, damaging winds and more tornadoes.
The following day, severe storms continued to spread from South Carolina to Michigan and Vermont. Pavlof Volcano, Alaska, continued to erupt, spewing out
a plume of steam, gas and ash more than four miles (6.7 km) into the air. South America: Chile: A 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of
Aisen (05-20; 02:49). Central America: Costa Rica: Turrialba Volcano began erupting, spewing out ash and gas. South Pacific: Earthquakes
of magnitude 6.3 (05-23; 14:07) and magnitude 7.4 (05-23; 10:19) hit the island Kingdom of Tonga. Solar Activity: Sunspot AR1745 erupted with a
coronal mass ejection, sending a radiation storm into space that was expected to strike Earth's magnetic field on the 24th, producing auroras and
geomagnetic storms.

25th -- Full Moon (4h 25m) LOW

Mideast: Lebanon: Two rockets hit the Hezbollah district of Beirut wounding at least three; the attack came hours after the Hezbollah leader
indicated his fighters would continue fighting along with forces in Syria. Europe: Russia: A 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit the Sea of Okhotsk,
just to the west of the Kamchatka Peninsula (05-24; 07:56). Republic of Belarus: An unusual tornado hit Uznogy village, damaging houses and powerlines.
Asia: India: An ambush attack on Congress Party officials in Chhattisgarh state by suspected Maoist rebels, left at least 24 dead and 32 wounded.
Philippines: Troops fought a militant Abu Sayyaf group in the south, near the coastal town of Patikul in Sulu province, leaving at least 12 dead. China:
Torrential rains hit the central and eastern parts of the country, flooding streets and trapping people inside homes; as much as 4 inches (100 mm) fell
in less than 12 hours. Africa: Somalia: The al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab carried out an attack on police posts over the Kenyan border, killing at
least six. North America: US: Heavy rains brought at least ten inches of rain to southern Texas, especially San Antonio, causing widespread
flooding from overflowing rivers, inudating homes and killing at least two; in the following days more heavy rain would cause more flooding. Two frieght
trains collided in Missouri, destroying a bridge and leaving seven injured. Heavy rain and thunderstorms also brought flooding from Des Moines to
Davenport, Iowa. South America: Brazil: Multiple explosions at a fuel depot rocked the northern outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, consuming at least
six tanks of fuel and lubricant, and spreading to nearby houses, late on the 24th; it is not known what caused the explosions. North Atlantic: A
large mass of tropical moisture was headed to the Caribbean with heavy rains and flooding in the days that followed. Solar Activity: As suspected,
a coronal mass ejection hit the Earth's magnetic field late of the 24th, triggering at least three episodes of polar geomagnetic storms from the 24th to
the 25th.

28th-29th -- Mid-Phase LOW

Mideast: Iraq: A series of car bombs targeting mainly Shia areas in Baghdad left at least 70 dead and injuried dozens, late on the 27th. The
following day, three more bombings and two gun clashes killed 13 and wounded at least 25. The next day, three more bombings killed at least 25 and
injuried at least 55 in and around Baghdad. Syria: The military chief of the opposition (aka, the Free Syrian Army) claimed that more than 7,000
fighters of the Lebanese Shia movement were taking part in attacks on Qusair; other estimates say it is about half that number. Europe: Italy:
An uncommon tornado struck the town of Cavenago di Brianza, causing extensive damage, wrecking buildings and overturning trucks. Asia: Myanmar
(Burma): More clashes between Muslims and Buddhists were reported, this time in Lashio, the capital of the Shan state, where a mosque and shops owned
by Muslims were set on fire. Afghanistan: Police officers, who had recently rejoined the force after defecting to the Taliban, shot and killed at least
seven fellow officers in Kandahar. Taliban insurgents attacked a Red Cross office in the city of Jalalabad with grenades and gunfire, killing one and
wounding one. Pakistan: A drone strike killed a high ranking Taliban commander and killed at least six suspected militants in the town of Miranshah.
North America: US: A freight train carrying chemicals in Maryland crashed into a garbage truck and derailed, causing a blast felt half a mile
(0.8 km) away. Thunderstorms, large hail, strong, damaging winds, and at least 20 tornadoes spread across the Plains from Texas to the Dakotas and as
far east as Ohio, western Pennsylvania and New York, leading to flooding and widespread damages. It is rare for tornadoes to hit as far north as
Pennsylvania, but one hit north of Edinboro and through Union City, bringing damages and injuring at least two. Mexico: Hurricane Barbara strengthened
from a tropical storm to a Category 1 Hurricane with sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph), after making landfall in the town of Santo Domingo Zanatapec,
in Oaxaca state, and battering and flooding coastal southern Mexico; at least two were killed. South America: Chile and Argentina: Copahue volcano,
bordering the two countries, began to increase in activity, calling for the evacuation of approximately 3,000. Solar Activity: An unusually fast
stream of solar wind blew around the Earth, causing geomagnetic storms around the poles and elevating levels of high-energy electrons in the Earth's
orbit. The following day, a coronal hole opened up sending out a stream of plasma into space that should reach Earth on June 2nd or 3rd.

31st -- Last Quarter (18h 58m) LOW

Mideast: Iraq: Two explosions hit the mainly Shia district of Karrada in Baghdad, killing at least 24 and wounded dozens. Europe:
Turkey: Police used tear gas and water cannons against protesters occupying Gezi Park, in central Istanbul, injuring at least tweleve; the demonstrators
were angry at plans to redevelop that part of Taksim Square. Asia: Kyrgyzstan: Hundreds of police dispersed a 1,000-strong protest over a wealthy
Canadian-owned gold mine, wanting a bigger share of the profits from the Kumtor mine. Africa: Sudan: Ethnic clashes in the Darfur region erupted
over land producing gum arabic, killing more than sixty. North America: US: More tornadoes swept through the Midwest and Plains with a mile-wide
tornado hitting Oklahoma City, causing extensive damages, killing 12 and injuring 89. Other tornadoes hit Moscow Mills and St. Charles, Missouri, causing
extensive damages. A tornado that hit El Reno, Oklahoma was 2.6 miles (4.2 km) wide -- the widest on record -- and its intensity was a EF-5, the highest
level with winds in excess of 200 mph (322 kph); some winds were recorded to 295 mph (475 kph). At least 30 tornadoes spread throughout Missouri, Nebraska,
Oklahoma and Kansas. Heavy rains also caused flooding in Missouri, Arkansas and Iowa. More than 250 severe weather events were recorded. Solar
Activity: A coronal mass ejection struck the Earth, triggering a geomagnetic storm.

June

mid-3rd-mid-5th -- Mid-Phase MODERATE

Mideast: Syria: With the help of Hezbollah, the government army took control of the city of Al-Qusayr, the number of causalties was not known.
A government helicopter fired five missiles into Kherbet Dawoud, near the Lebanese town of Arsal, were many fled from Al-Qusayr. The opposition indicated
that they would fight Hezbollah, in Lebanon. The war now appears to be between Iran, Hezbollah and Syria, and possibly also Turkey, Qatar and Saudi
Arabia, with Russia and the US in the background. Iraq: A fake security checkpoint was manned by gunmen in the west, near the town of al-Nukhaib, killing
at least fourteen. Europe: Central Europe: Heavy rains brought the worst flooding in 70 years to Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland and Austria,
causing thousands to evacuate and killing at least 18. Towns were under water all along the Danube River, while levees broke in Germany making the
flooding worse. Turkey: The demonstrations that began on the last lunar phase (5/31) swelled into a strong anti-government, natiowide protest, after police
shot water canons and tear gas at protesters; A 240,000-member KESK confederation of public-sector workers called for a two-day strike in protest against
the "fascism" of Prime Minister Erdogan. Two were killed, 2,800 protesters were injured across the country, and there was $37 million in damages. Asia:
Afghanistan: A suicide bomb attack at a bazaar in Paktia province, left 13 dead (including 10 school children) and wounded at least sixteen. Myanmar
(Burma): Police fired on protesters in Rakhine state, killing at least three women from the Rohingya minority. China: The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
was hit with torrential rain and hail that brought widespread floods, affecting more than 98,500 over a few days. Africa: Mali: Government soldiers
clashed with secular separatist Tuareg fighters near the northern town of Kidal, killing at least two and wounding an unknown number. North America:
US: Four tornadoes struck four counties in North and South Carolina, killing at least five, injuring at least ten and causing widespread damages. Storms
brought large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Kansas City, Missouri. A Mississippi River levee failed,
flooding the community of West Alton, Missouri, and causing hundreds to evacuate. Major flooding occurred all along the Mississippi River. Tropical
Storm Andrea developed in the Gulf Coast, and headed northeast toward Florida, bringing heavy rain, gusty winds, rough surf and severe thunderstorms.
Andrea was expected to hit the northeast, possibly as a hurricane, later in the week. Heavy rainstorms swept across Alabama, Mississippi, and West Texas.
Oceania: Solomon Islands: A 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit the island nation (06-04; 21:49). Solar Activity: Sunspot AR1762 exploded with
a long-duration M1-class solar flare, hurling a coronal mass ejection into space, early on the 5th.

8th -- New Moon (15h 56m) MODERATE

Mideast: Iraq: A suicide bomber in Baghdad rammed a car carrying explosives into a bus, killing at least 10 Iranian Shia pilgrims and injuring at
least 30, on the 7th. Europe: Turkey: Thousands of protesters in Ankara continued anti-government demonstrations, which brought clashes with
police who used tear gas and water cannons to disperse them. Germany: A dam gave way on the flooded River Elbe in the east, forcing thousands to flee their
homes around the city of Magdeburg. Asia: Pakistan: Bomb attacks on military convoys in a tribal region, killed three soliders and wounded four.
A drone attack killed seven in North Waziristan, a tribal area known as a stronghold for al-Qaeda and Taliban. Afghanistan: A possible insider attack in
Paktika, a man wearing an Afghan army uniform open fired, killing three. China: The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region was hit with days of rain that
triggered flash floods, killing at least fifteen. Africa: Libya: Clashes outside a military headquarters in Benghazi left at least 25 dead and
58 wounded. The clashes followed a protest to disband the Libya Shield brigade, who helped to oust Muammar Gaddafi; the militia refused to lay down its
weapons. Somalia: Hundreds fled the southern port city of Kismayo after fighting broke out between two rival leaders with large militia, killing at least
17. North America: US: After Tropical Storm Andrea dumped 3 to more than 6 inches in numerous record rainfalls, rivers and streams overflowed from
South Carolina to southern New England. The storm also left extensive damages in Cuba and Canada. Solar Activity: A coronal mass ejection hit the
Earth's magnetic field, producing high-latitude auroras and geomagnetic storms.

11th-12th -- Mid-Phase HIGH

Mideast: Syria: Two suicide bombers hit the center of Damascus, killing at least 14 and injuring at least 30; the attacks came as government forces
prepared to recapture the city of Aleppo. Opposition froces attacked the city of Deir al-Zour, killing dozens of Shia Muslim residents who were
pro-government fighters. At least 60 were killed in Hatla, a predominantly Shia village just to the east of the city of Deir al-Zour, while the survivors
fled to nearby Jafra; 10 opposition fighters were also killed. Iraq: A series of bombings and attacks in six cities left at least 70 dead and more than
50 wounded, on the 10th. Europe: Turkey: Clashes between protesters and police intensified as renewed rioting continued in Ankara and Istanbul,
-- it became more vicious when tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons were used by police, as protesters threw fireworks and gasoline bombs, while
chanting and striking metal objects. Germany: The surging River Elbe continued to produce record-level floods in many communities with 45,000 evacuating
in the state of Saxony-Anhalt alone. Danube River: The Danube also continued to bring flooding to southern Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and southern
Hungary, with Serbia expected to be hit later in the week. Romania: Torrential rains brought major flash floods to the east, killing at least three.
Asia: Afghanistan: A suicide bomb attack in Kabul, outside the Supreme Court, killed at least 16 and injuried more than 40; the Taliban appeared to
be responsible. Taliban militants armed with guns and explosives fought with security forces after taking over a building near the airport in Kabul,
seven Taliban were killed. Taliban militants also beheaded two children in Kandahar province. India: A major heatwave began that would last days and
take at least 26 lives in the northeastern state of Assam. North America: US: Over two days twenty-four tornadoes hit parts of Kentucky, Maryland,
Virigina, Iowa, Illinois, Montana and Delaware, causing major damages to homes, buildings and powerlines. Ninteen states from the Upper Midwest to the
East Coast were affected by widespread damaging winds, large hail and isolated tornadoes. Record-high temperatures stretched from New Mexico and Texas
through to Kansas. Three separate wildfires swept though hot and windy Colorado destroying at least 500 homes, causing the evacuation of nearly 38,000
residents, and killing two. One wildfire was threatening the world's highest suspension bridge -- the Royal Gorge Bridge on the Arkansas River. Canada:
The province of Alberta was affected by flooding from the Hangingstone and Clearwater Rivers, as a local state of emergency was put into effect. South
America: Brazil: Thousands protested a hike in bus and train fares, as they clashed with police who used tear gas; some protesters damaged a train
station and burnt buses. Indian Ocean: A 6.7 magnitude earthquake hit east-northeast of Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island (06-13; 09:47).
Atlantic: The derecho that swept the Northeast US appears to have caused a meteotsunami to hit the coast of New Jersey. A derecho is a widespread,
long-lived, straight-line wind storm that is associated with a land-based, fast-moving band of severe thunderstorms. The meteotsunami was noted in that
over 30 gauges indicated what appeared to be a tsunami in its strength and wave frequencies, but this was caused by weather, not by an earthquake.

16th -- First Quarter (17h 24m) HIGH

Mideast: Syria: A huge blast shook the western Mezzeh suburb at a Military Airport in Damascus, sparking a raging fire; casualties were not yet known.
Iraq: Car bombings across cities with a high concentration of Shia Muslims - including Kut, Najaf, Mahmoudiya, Nasiriya and Basra - left at least 30 dead
and injuried dozens. Europe: Greece: A 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit south of Pirgos (06-15; 09:11) and was followed by eight aftershocks ranging
from 4.5 to 5.8 in magnitude into the next day. Turkey: Fresh clashes continued in Ankara and Istanbul amid protests with riot police shooting tear gas
and water cannons; 7,400 had been injuried and four killed since the clashes began (5/30). Asia: Pakistan: Suicide bombers attacked a bus in
Quetta killing 14 and injuring 22, militants with guns then attacked a hospital treating the survivors, where they killed another eleven. India: Heavy
monsoon rains caused landslides and flash floods that washed away buildings in the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, killing at least 150, while at
least 50 were unaccounted for in Uttarakhand alone. North America: US: A series of severe storms with heavy rains and strong winds swept the Plains,
causing the flooding of rivers, lakes and ponds. Mexico: Heavy rains in the towns near the US-Texas border displaced more than 40,000. South
America: Brazil: Near Rio de Janeiro's Maracana football stadium hundreds of protesters clashed with riot police, who fired tear gas and rubber
bullets; protesters were against an increase in bus ticket prices and the use of public funds spent on soccer events. The following day tens of thousands
throughtout the country joined the protests. Central America: Nicaragua: A 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit west of Masachapa (06-15; 10:34) and was
followed by three aftershocks ranging from 4.5 to 5.1 in magnitude. South Pacific: A 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit south of Kermadec Islands
(06-15; 04:20). New Zealand: Nearly an entire day of heavy rain on South Island triggered a landslide that destroyed a house, threatening other houses,
and killing at least one. Caribbean: A tropical wave moved toward the Yucatan Peninsula, bringing torrential rainfall from northern Nicaragua to
northern Honduras; the storm was expected to develop into a tropical storm. Solar Activity: Sunspots emerging over the Sun's eastern limb.

19th-20th -- Mid-Phase and Solstice 20th-21st MAXIMUM

Mideast: Egypt: The appointment of new governor sparked angry protests in the streets of Luxor, because the governor had links to an Islamist group
that carried out an attack there in the 1990s. Yemen: A suicide bomber with a bomb-laden motorbike hit a market in the northern town of Saada, killing at
least two. Iraq: Two suicide bombers attacked a Shiite mosque in Baghdad, killing at least 31 and wounding 57, on the 18th. Syria: Intense fighting
continued in Aleppo, the last major rebel stronghold; the Free Syrian Army received new weapons, bringing them new hope. Europe: France: Heavy
rains caused the Gave de Pau River to overflow, submerging the famous Lourdes Grotto, while forcing almost 2,000 to evacuate and killing at least three.
Switzerland: Violent thunderstorms with heavy rain, hurricane force winds and hail battered the Biel region, flattening a Swiss sports festival and
injuring thirty-nine. Georgia: A major hailstorm caused extensive damage to eight villages in Akhmeta in the eastern Kakheti region.
Asia: Pakistan: A prolonged and unprovoked mortar attack by Indian troops killed a 9-year old girl and wounded three near
the Kashmir border. China: Heavy rains triggered landslides and mudslides that killed at least two and displaced about 45,000 in the Xinjiang Uygur
autonomous region. India: Torrential monsoon rains triggered massive floods and landslides throughout the north, killing more than 1,000, as it
also caused extensive damage to roads, bridges, and farms, and even washed away whole towns. Recent mining in the area lead to deforestation releasing
large amounts of silt and it is feared that there may be ten thousand dead in what has been called an ecocide. Africa: Somalia: The al-Qaeda-linked
group al-Shabab detonated a car bomb outside the UN mission in Mogadishu, then fought with security forces in a fierce gun-battle, killing at least
fifteen. The following day heavy fighting took place between rival factions of the group near the key coastal town of Brava, killing at least six.
Nigeria: Gunman raided a village in Zamfara state, killing at least 48 in house-to-house attacks; they appeared to be targeted killings by cattle rustlers.
Gunmen, believed to be the Islamic Boko Haram group, opened fire on students at a school on the outskirts of Maiduguri, killing at least nine. Mozambique:
Opposition Renamo party gunmen ambushed vehicles in three attacks in central Sofala province, killing two and wounding five. Kenya: Fighting between two
clans in Banisa, left at least six dead, hundreds fled the area. North America: US and Canada: Severe storms struck the northern High Plains and
Canadian Prairies with huge hail the size of baseballs and softballs, destructive winds and tornadoes. Canada: Torrential rain and floods washed away
roads and bridges, triggered landslides, and left much of central Calgary underwater; authorites ordered the evacuation of the city, forcing 100,000 from
their homes, and killed at least three. Gulf of Mexico: Tropical Depression Two strengthened into Tropical Storm Barry approaching Mexico's state of
Veracruz and Mexico City with winds of 40 mph (65 kph) and gusts of 52 mph (83 kph). It produced heavy rains, flash floods and mudslides, and then
weakened once again into a tropical depression. South America: Brazil: Protesters swelled to at least 30,000 in Fortaleza city alone ahead of the
Confederations Cup game with Mexico, where protesters threw stones, while police fired rubber bullets and tear gas. Protests spread throughout the country
with estimates of more than a quarter million anti-govenment protesters, as violent clashes injuried dozens. The protests would swell to about one
million the following day. Pacific: Tropical Storm Leepi strengthened as it headed for southern Japan with winds of 40 mph (65 kph) and gusts of
52 mph (83 kph). A Tropical Depression developed in the north with winds of 29 mph (46 kph) and gusts of 40 mph (65 kph), as it headed for landfall in
Southeast Asia. Solar Activity: A large coronal hole opened in the Sun's northern hemisphere, spewing a coronal mass ejection into space that was
expected to reach Earth on the 23rd to 24th. Large sunspot AR1775 posed a threat for Earth-directed flares, and on the solstice erupted with an M2-class
solar flare directed away from Earth, but its rotation could direct it towards Earth in a few days.

23th -- Full Moon (11h 32m) MAXIMUM

Mideast: Lebanon: Fighting broke out when a radical Sunni cleric opened fire on a checkpoint, which lead to clashes with Sunni militants in the port
city of Sidon, killing six; sectarian tensions had risen since the country's Hezbollah backed Syria's government. Iraq: A suicide bomber attacked a Shia
mosque near Baghdad, in the Sabaa al-Bour area, killing at least 14 and wounding 25. Europe: Montenegro: A bus plunged off a bridge into a ravine
during a heavy rain storm, killing at least 16 and injuring 30. A passenger train whose brakes failed plunged into a ravine in Bioce, killing at
least 44 and injuring more than 180. Italy, and the Croatian and Serbia: Severe thunderstorms with torrential rains, and tornadoes or waterspouts struck
the northeast of Italy, and the Croatian and Serbia coast, causing widespread damages and killing at least one. Asia: Pakistan: Gunmen stormed a
hotel in Nanga Parbat, killing ten, including at least nine foreign tourists; the Taliban said that it was in retaliation for the drone killing of its
second-in-command. Africa: Kenya: A grenade attack in Banisa killed at least ten and wounded more than tweleve in a camp for displaced people;
hundreds were fleeing from the area. Central African Republic: Heavy rains caused a pit collapse in a gold mine, killing at least 37 near Ndassima.
North America: US: Torrential rains, massive hail downpours, and extensive flooding swept throughout the Midwest. Minnesota was declared to be
in a state of emergency due to flooding. A number of tornadoes, amid heavy ownpours, hit western Nebraska. The Northeast was swept by heavy rains, and
hurricane-force winds. Wildfires in southwest Colorado lead to the evacuation of South Fork. Canada: Floodwaters flowed downstream in Alberta, causing
the evacuation of about 10,000 of the city of Medicine Hat. This along with the flooding in Calgary required a billion dollars in aid. South
America: Brazil: A police operation in Rio de Janeiro lead to gun battles with drug dealers, killing at least nine, on the 24th. Pacific: A
Tropical depression intensified into Tropical Storm Bebinca with winds of 40 mph (65 kph) and gusts of 52 mph (83 kph), and was headed for North Vietnam.
Atlantic: A 6.4 magnitude earthquake spread the Northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge (06-24; 15:04). Solar Activity: A fast stream of solar wind
blew around the Earth, triggering polar geomagnetic storms.

26th-27th -- Mid-Phase MAXIMUM

Mideast: Iraq: Two suicide bombers struck a protest camp north of the Baghdad, where Turkmen demanded better security for the area, killing at
least ten and wounding at least 55. Elsewhere, a bomb exploded on a bus, killing at least three, and two guards were wounded when gunmen fired on a
church, on the 25th. A series of bombings targeted crowded cafes in and around Baghdad, killing at least 16 and injuring dozens; it appears to be
related to tensions between the Shia Muslim majority, which leads the government, and minority Sunnis. Syria: A suicide bomb blast in an old Christian
quarter of Damascus left at least four dead and damaged several shops. Asia: China: Violent riots broke out in Turpan prefecture where ethnic
tensions between Muslim Uighur and Han Chinese communities ignited; rioters stabbed twenty-four to death and police killed ten rioters, while at least
three were wounded and rioters also set cars on fire. Pakistan: A bomb, remotely detonated, exploded in the city of Karachi, killing at least eight,
and wounding a senior judge and several others. Africa: Libya: Heavy gunfire and explosions rocked Tripoli leaving at least seven dead, as fear
and panic swept the area where it was not clear what warring groups were involved; it continued for days. North America: US: Another bout of
severe weather swept through the Midwest and the Northeast, bringing blinding downpours, damaging hurricane-force winds, large hail, flash flooding and
tornadoes, affecting over 100 million from Chicago, Illinois to New York to Atlanta, Georgia. In the interior West high pressure began to set in that
would lead to a major heat wave with record highs. South America: Brazil: About 50,000 protesters marched to the stadium in Belo Horizonte during
a Brazil-Uruguay Confederations Cup match, again protesting government corruption and waste, and demanding more spending on education and health.
Paraguay and Argentina: Heavy rains caused the Parana River to flood forcing residents to evacuate, as the government issued a state of emergency.
Chile: Students in Santiago took over secondary schools demanding free and improved education after which police raided the schools and clashed with
students, arresting 122; the schools were to be used as polling stations for a presidential primary. Solar Activity: A coronal mass ejection
sent out an interplanetary shock wave that hit the Earth's magnetic field on the 27th.

30th -- Last Quarter (4h 53m) MAXIMUM

Mideast: Syria: Aircraft, tanks and mortar rounds hit the city of Homs, as the government forces attacked opposition strongholds in one of the most
violent of the revolution. Egypt: Tens of thousands filled Tahrir Square calling for the resignation of President Mohammed Morsi throwing stones and
gasoline bombs; at least four were killed. Millions of protesters swept across the country. Iraq: A suicide bomb attack targeted a Shia mosque in the
town of Muqdadiyah, killing at least 22, and another attack targeted a cafe in the city of Baquba, killing at least eight and wounding 20. Asia:
China: Tropical Storm Rumbia strengthened with winds of 52 mph (83 kph) and gusts of 63 mph (102 kph) and would hit the southern mainland with heavy rains
and destructive winds. Philippines: Tropical Storm Rumbia would hit the islands first with heavy rains and destructive winds, killing seven. Pakistan:
Suicide bomb attacks in the cities of Quetta and Peshawar left at least 47 dead and at least 90 wounded, as Sunni Muslim militants hit Shia Muslim
minority areas. Thailand: A roadside bomb exploded in the country's south, in the Krong Pinang district of Yala province, killing at least eight
soldiers and wounding two. Africa: Uganda: A car crashed into a fuel tanker truck, killing at least 29 and burning 20 motorcycles; many who
died rushed to the scene to siphon off the fuel. North America: US: A major heat wave swept the western states with record highs throughout
much of the southwest; some temperatures reached 130 degrees F (54 C); dozens were sent to hospitals suffering from heat exhaustion, at least two died.
More than 140 heat-related injuries were reported in the Southwest alone. Heavy thunderstorms triggered flooding across the East. A major wildfire in
central Arizona destroyed more than half the town of Yarnell, and killed 19 firefighters. South America: Brazil: Protests again erupted in Rio de
Janeiro, as the Confederations Cup final got under way, with clashes between thousands of protesters and police. Solar Activity: A coronal mass
ejection was expected to hit the Earth's magnetic field late on the 30th or July 1st.

July

mid-3rd-mid-5th -- Mid-Phase MAXIMUM

Mideast: Egypt: Mohammed Morsi was ousted as president and the country's constitution was suspended after the military took over, amid millions
protesting Morsi's government. At least 40 were killed, more than 200 injuried and more than 100 sexual assaults took place, most occurred at Pro-Morsi
demonstrations. Key figures in the Muslim Brotherhood were rounded up by the Egyptian Army. Iraq: A series of attacks spread across the country with a
bomb exploding on a busy street in Nahrawan, killing seven, later two car bombs killed four in the northern city of Mosul, the bodies of three builders
were found in Zafaraniya, and in a suicide bomb attack on a Shia mosque in Baghdad killed 15 and wounded more than 30. Asia: Indonesia: A 6.1
magnitude earthquake struck in the northwest, south of Bireun, killing 22, injuring more than 200 and damaging or destroying thousands of homes and
buildings, and triggering landslides (07-02; 00:37). China: Tropical Storm Rumbia's heavy rains brought extensive flooding across the south with the
provinces of Guangdong and Hainan hit the hardest; roads were turned into rivers and buildings were washed away. Pakistan: A drone fired at least two
missiles at a house in North Waziristan tribal region, killing at least seventeen. Afghanistan: A suicide attack on a Kabul base killed at least ten,
on the 2nd. North America: US: Widespread tropical downpours soaked a large part of the Southeast and Gulf Coast, bringing flooding to Florida,
Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia. The following day the heavy rains would also flood parts of the Ohio Valley. Mexico: Popocatepetl
volcano spewed ash and lava, causing four US airlines to temporarily suspended flights to and from Mexico City, about 34 miles (55 km) away; the warning
was set at the highest level just below evacuation. South America: Waves as high as 22 feet (7 m) hit parts of the coasts of Chile and Peru flooding
streets in Antofagasta, Chile and Chimbote, Peru due to high winds. Oceania: Papua New Guinea: A 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit 50 miles (81 km)
south-southeast of Panguna (07-04; 10:16). Solar Activity: Large sunspot AR1785 produced an M1.5-class solar flare, sending a coronal mass ejection
into space. A slow coronal mass ejection would trigger minor geomagnetic storms. The sunspot complex AR1785-1787 rotated over the Sun's southeastern
limb, increasing the odds of a solar flare.

8th -- New Moon (7h 14m) HIGH

Mideast: Egypt: Scurity forces clashed with supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood, killing more than 50 and
wounding at least 435. Morsi was held at the Republican Guard headquarters which was attacked with boimbs, bullets and rocks, causing security forces to
defend the building and themselves. Lebanon: A car bomb exploded in a Hesbollah-Shia stronghold in Bierut, wounding 53 and causing extensive damage.
Europe: Turkey: Istanbul's governor reopened Gezi Park, next to Taksim Square, to the public -- the site of last month's anti-government protests
-- only to close it again after protest leaders called a rally, and police fired tear gas and water cannons at the protesters. Asia: India: The
two-storey City Light hotel collapsed in the city of Secunderabad, killing at least twelve and injuring dozens; many were still trapped under the debris.
China: Flooding in west was the worst in fifty years, triggering landslides that buried at least 40, destroying homes and bridges, and killing at least 86.
North America: US: The Plains, from Montana through South Dakota, were drenched with severe thunderstorms that caused widespread flooding. Also,
severe thunderstorms with heavy rains stretched from Detroit to Pittsburgh causing flooding in low-lying areas. Canada: Heavy thunderstorms slammed
Toronto causing widespread flooding in the city and surrounding low-lying areas, and stalled trains and stranded vehilces; it would take days to recover.
Pacific: Tropical Depression Soulik strengthened with winds of 52 mph (83 kph) and gusts of 63 mph (102 kph) as it headed towards southern China
and Taiwan. Papua New Guinea: A 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit east-northeast of Taron (07-07; 11:35), and a 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit northeast of
Kandrian (07-07; 13:30). Atlantic: Tropical Depression Chantal with winds of 50 mph (80 kph) that extended more than 90 miles (145 km) from the
eye was headed towards Haiti, the Dominican Republic and other parts of the Caribbean. Solar Activity: Colossal sunspot AR1785, directly facing
Earth, displayed a magnetic field that could send M-class and X-ray flares towards Earth. The sunspot was more than 11 Earth-diameters across, making
it one of the largest of the current cycle.

mid-11th-mid-13th -- Mid-Phase HIGH

Mideast: Iraq: Bomb and gun attacks across the country killed more than 30, most of them security forces, including a car bomb in Kirkuk, a funeral
in Muqdadiyah, north-east of Baghdad, and an assault on security forces in Anbar province. The following day, a bomb attack in a cafe in the city of Kirkuk
killed at least 38 and wounded 26, four policemen were killed at a checkpoint in Mosul, and a senior police officer was shot dead in Sharqat. Europe:
France: A derailed train crashed into a station platform at Bretigny-sur-Orge, killing at least six and injuring twenty. England: In a possible terrorist
attack, an explosion in Tipton, near a Mosque, left nails and debris strewn about and caused the evacuation of the area. Asia: China: In the
country's southwest more heavy rains triggered more flooding in the already ravaged Sichuan Province, where floodwaters swept away bridges, houses and
hillsides, and left more than 300 dead or missing. Torrential rains lead to the evacuation of more than 36,000 in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, and
damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes and buildings. A deadly rain-triggered landslide left hundreds displaced, and at least 30 dead, with eleven
still missing in Dujiangyan. Super Typhoon Soulik brought more heavy rains washing way or seriously damaged over 100,000 homes, making roadways rivers
and causing the evacuation of more than 100,000. Taiwan: Tropical Depression Soulik strengthened into a category 4 Super Typhoon with winds of 121 mph
(194 kph) and gusts of 150 mph (241 kph), dumping torrenial rains and bringing fierce, destructive winds to the island nation; in the following days the
storm would also hit China. Indonesia: At least 150 prisoners escaped from a jail in the city of Medan on the island of Sumatra, after the jail was set on
fire; at least five were killed. North Korea: Torrential rains hit country's central region, bringing widespread destruction that left at least 760
homeless and two dead. Africa: Nigeria: A residential building collapsed in a poor section of Lagos city, killing at least seven. Somalia: A
car-bomb suicide attack, targeting African Union peacekeepers in Mogadishu, killed at least five; the attack was carried out by the al-Qaeda-linked group
al-Shabab. Democratic Republic of Congo: At least 70,000 people crossed into Uganda after a group of Ugandan rebels attacked a border town where an undisclosed
number were killed and kidnapped. North America: US: In Colorado mudslides swept away dozens of cars on a roadway. Virigina, Ohio and Pennsylvania
were hit with flash floods that stranded many. A huge waterspout developed near Tampa Bay, Florida, and made landfall, causing some damages. Drenching
downpours, gusty thunderstorms and flash flooding spread throughout Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Central and northern Indiana was battered by slow-moving storms that caused extensive damage to a few counties. Heavy, drenching rain brought flash
flooding to the greater Washington, D.C., area. Caribbean: Tropical Storm Chantal swept along the southern coast of the island of Hispaniola,
leaving at least one dead in the Dominican Republic, and causing widespread flooding and the evacuation of thousands. Weakening to a tropical wave, but
still producing heavy rain and gusty winds, it swept over Jamaica and eastern Cuba, and then headed for the southeastern US. South America: Brazil:
Clashes broke out between protesters and police in front of the state government palace and elsewhere in central Rio de Janeiro; the violence came after a
day of union-led strikes and rallies filled the streets. Solar Activity: Sunspot AR1785 was decaying, but still had a magnetic field that harbored
energy for X-class solar flares. Fluctuating geomagnetic storms were occurring as Earth passed through the remnants of a coronal mass ejection. Another
coronal mass ejection would hit Earth on the 13th.

16th -- First Quarter (3h 18m) MODERATE

Mideast: Syria: Pro-government militiamen in the province of Homs attacked a group of mediators overseeing talks between Sunni Muslims and members
of the minority Alawite sect, killing six. A car bomb exploded north of Damascus killing at least 13, on the 15th. Syria and Turkey: Clashes between
al-Nusra rebels and a convoy of Kurdish fighters in Syria, that killed ten, spilled over into Turkey where stray gunfire killed a boy and wounded another.
Egypt: The Muslim Brotherhood again took to the streets to protest the ousting of President Morsi, which lead to clashes that killed at least seven and
wounded more than 60. Europe: Ireland: Police where attacked with bombs, gasoline bombs and bricks in Belfast, Newtownabbey and Portadown,
injuring 27 policemen. Asia: China: A landslide in the south's Guizhou province, killed at least five, as days of heavy rains and damaging winds
destroyed bridges, buildings, and crops with estimates of more than ten million in damages. Bangladesh: Thousands of protesters clashed with police after
the conviction of an Islamist party leader for war crimes during the 1971 war of independence with Pakistan, killing at least two. Africa: Guinea:
Ethnic clashes, involving the Guerze and Konianke, in the city of N'Zerekore, left at least 54 dead, 130 wounded and resulted in a curfew for the city of
300,000 and the deployment of security troops. North America: US: A blistering heat wave continued to overwhelm nearing the entire country,
especially the East and Mideast, causing power outages, breaking record temperatures and causing heat-related illnesses. A wilfire in California was
spreading, and would eventually claim nearly 50 square miles, destroy homes and cause the evacuation of hundreds of homes in Idyllwild and nearby Fern
Valley. South America: Ecuador: Tungurahua volcano erupted sending a ash plume 3.25 miles (more than 5 km) into the air and causing the evacuation
of hundreds. Australia: Heavy rains and destructive winds battered the Southwest of Western Australia, causing widespread damage to homes and
property. A boat carrying about 150 asylum seekers capsized off the coast of Christmas Island, killing at least four.

19th-20th -- Mid-Phase MODERATE

Mideast: Iraq: An anti-Sunni suicide bomber hit Abu Bakr al-Sadiq Mosque in the town of Wajihiya in Diyala province, killing at least 20 and
wounding at least 40. The following day, a wave of car bombings shook Baghdad, killing at least 30 and injuring at least 70 in the districts of
Karrada, Baiyaa, Shurta, Tobchi and Zafaraniya; most were believed to be Sunnis. Egypt: Pro-Morsi and pro-army rallies continued to be held in Cairo
and around the country, clashing with each other and the police and army. Syria: Pro-government forces attacked a family in the mostly Sunni village
in Bayda, killing thirteen members of the same family, most of which were women and children; reports say they burnt them alive. Europe: Turkey:
Heavy rains triggered a landslide near the town of Dortyol, along the border with Syria, killing at least five and destroying six homes. Spain: More
than 1,000 protested outside the governing Popular Party headquarters in Madrid, as police and dozens of anti-government demonstrators clashed, leaving
several injuried; the protests were due to a scandal involving the party. UK: Northwest England's heatwave was raised to "level three" by the Met Office,
making it and Wales the hottest part parts of the country. France: As many as 300 attacked a police station in Trappes, set cars on fire and threw stones
at police, after a woman was told to remove an Islamic face-covering veil, banned in public, causing her husband to attack an officer and was arrested.
Asia: China: More relentless rains hit the already soaked Sichuan Province flooding towns and roadways, causing the evacuation of 12,300, and
killing dozens. Kashmir: Security forces in the India-administered country fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters of the previous day's
killing of four demostraters; the protesters defied a government curfew. Phillipines: Heavy rains triggered landslides in a farming village in Malapatan,
Sarangani. Africa: Mali: Ethnic clashes between Tuaregs and black civilians left one black dead in the northern town of Kidal, and black-owned
shops were set on fire. North America: US: Again, a heat wave hit the Northeast and Midwest, breaking record temperatures and sending many with
heat-related illnesses to the hospital; power outages took place in DC and New York. The following day severe stroms stretched from Cincinnati to Boston,
bringing damaging winds and flash flooding to the Northeast and Midwest. Also, flooding rain caused damage near Las Vegas, Nevada. Protests were held in
more than 100 cities, demonstrating against the acquittal of George Zimmerman who killed the black teenager, Trayvon Martin. Canada: Montreal and
southwest Quebec were battered by severe thunderstorms, killing at least one, injuring at least ten, and causing widespread power outages for half a
million residents. Mexico: Heavy rains in the north brought widespread flooding, including the airport, forcing hundreds from their homes and leading to
dramatic rescues. South America: Colombia: Heavy rain caused a landslide on a stretch of road in the south, killing at least six, while nearly
thirty were trapped under rocks and mud. The following day, a grenade blast at a Cucuta nightclub, killed one and injuried at least twenty; it was
believed to be the work of a drug gang. Australia: Rioting broke out at an Australian-run immigration detention camp on the Pacific island state
of Nauru, where about 150 aslyum-seekers set fire to several buildings and destroyed the camp's medical center. Pacific: New Zealand: A 6.5
magnitude earthquake hit for a full minute (07-20; 22:09), recking widespread damages, halting trains and damaging Wellington's parliament building.
Solar Activity: A high-speed solar wind blew past the Earth, but did not trigger geomagnetic storms or aurora. Sunspot AR1783, though quiet,
harbored a magnetic field that could produce an M-class solar flare.

22nd -- Full Moon (18h 15m) MODERATE

Mideast: Iraq: Fierce fighting, involving missles, grenades, mortar fire and twelve suicide bombers, near Baghdad jails in Abu Ghraib and Taji,
allowed the escape of about 500 inmates, many of which were al-Qaeda, and left twenty-one security forces and ten rebels dead. Syria: Opposition forces
took the strategic town of Khan al-Assal, on a route that links the province to the city of Aleppo. Europe: France: A major storm struck the
Beaune region, causing widespread damages to houses and roads, and injuring three. Asia: China: Magnitude 5.9 (07-21; 16:45) and 5.6 (07-21; 18:12)
earthquakes tore into Gansu province, killing at least 94 and injuring more than 800; the area was hit by 371 aftershocks. Widespread damage tore into
houses, telecommunication lines and highways; rescue efforts were hampered from the already heavily soaked area of recent rains. North America:
Mexico: An explosion at a Pemex crude oil pipeline left at least six injuried. US and Canada: Strong and severe thunderstorms, with damaging winds and
large hail, overwhelmed an area stretching from Thunder Bay in southern Ontario, Canada to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and La Crosse, Wisconsin, to northern
Iowa, causing widespread damages and flash flooding. Heavy rains also flooded Eloy, Arizona. South America: Colombia: FARC rebels ambushed a
group of soldiers guarding an oil pipeline, killing at least fifteen, and in a separate incident killed four soldiers in Caqueta; twelve rebels were
captured. Brazil: Violent protests broke out in front of the governor's building in Rio de Janiero, protesting government corruption, the lack of help
for the people, especially the poor, and excess spending. Solar Activity: There was a slight chance that sunspot AR1793 would send out an M-class
solar flare.

25th-26th -- Mid-Phase MODERATE

Mideast: Iraq: A bomb attack in the town of Muqdadiya, another bomb near a cafe in Madain, and gunshots to the heads of Shia Muslims at a fake
checkpoint set up by Sunni militants, near Baghdad, left a total of at least 49 dead. The previous day armed men opened fire on a police station near
Mosul, killing nine policemen. Syria: A car bomb explosion in Damascus left at least seven dead and more than 65 injuried, raising the death toll of the
country's two-year-long conflict to 100,000. Europe: Spain: A high-speed train derailed in the Galicia region, near Santiago de Compostela,
killing at least 78, and injuring at least 100, late on the 24th; it seemed that the train had taken a curve at 118 mph (190 kph) while the speed limit on
that section of track was 50 mph (80 kph). UK: Scotland and Northern Ireland were hit by heavy rain for two days that caused localized flooding.
Asia: China: Torrential rains swamped Shaanxi province, killing at least fourteen, and destroying farmland and nearly five thousand houses (more
than $290 million in losses). Also swamped with heavy rains was Heilongjiang province, killing at least one, and damaging or destroying farmland and
hundreds of houses (nearly $50 million in losses). A similar fate hit Gansu Province triggering mudslides and flooding that killed at least 21.
Pakistan: Two bombs exploded near two different mosques in a market in Parachinar, the main town of
the Kurram tribal region, near the Afghan border, killing at least 39 and injuring more than 100. Africa: Tunisia: Opposition party leader Mohamed
Brahmi was shot dead in Tunis, sparking two days of widespread protests across the country for the current government to resign. Egypt: Huge rallies of
both supporters and opponents of ousted Islamist president, Morsi, flared into the night with five being killed in Alexandria. Morsi was formally accused
of conspiring with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. At least 80 were killed and hundreds injuried nationwide in the following days. North America:
Mexico: The drug cartel Knights Templar ambushed security forces
in Michoacan, killing two officers, while police killed at least 20 armed gang members. US: A train carrying ethanol derailed at the Port of Tampa,
Florida, fifteen cars were sent off the track and were sprayed with foam to prevent the ethanol from igniting. Torrential Rains hit the Northeast from
Long Island, New York to southeastern New England, causing widespread flooding. The South Park mall was flooded in Charlotte, North Carolina. South
America: An unusual cold front swept throughout the continent with as much as 5 feet (1.5 m) of accumulation in southern Brazil, in the Chilean
district of Aysen the snowstorm was the worst in 30 years, and in an usual event it moved across the Equator dropping temperatures in southeastern
Colombia and northwestern Brazil before dissipating in the tropical warmth. Atlantic: Tropical Storm Dorian was headed towards the Caribbean and
would likely impact the Leeward Islands first, then just north of the Lesser Antilles, hitting Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and finally might hit
the Southeastern US. A 6.2 magnitude earthquake shook Bristol Island, South Sandwich Islands (07-26; 14:32). Pacific: Tropical Storm Flossie was
headed on a path to Hawaii, but appeared it would weaken to a major rainstorm before landfall. A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck east-northeast of
Luganville, Vanuatu (07-26; 00:07). Solar Activity: A fast-moving stream of solar wind blew around the Earth causing geomagnetic storms and bright
auroras.

29th -- Last Quarter (17h 43m) MODERATE

Mideast: Iraq: A wave of car bombs in mostly Shia areas of Baghdad and other cities, killed at least 51 and injuried more than 200. Syria:
Government troops retook the key city of Homs; the number of dead and injuried was not known. Europe: Switzerland: Two trains collided head-on
near Granges-pres-Marnand, injuring at least 35 and killing at least one. Italy: A tornado swept through an industrial area of Milan, injuring at least
twelve, and destroying buildings and vehicles as it ripped through Grezzago. UK: Torrential rains brought flash flooding from Todmorden to Brighouse,
West Yorkshire, along the River Calder and its tributaries, damaging properties. Poland: The Lower Silesia region was hit by major storms that wrecked
havoc, flooding houses and roadways, and cutting power. Asia: China: Torrential rains hit the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region triggering floods
that affected at least 100,000. Pakistan: Taliban militants wearing police uniforms attacked a jail in the town of Dera Ismail Khan with explosives,
grenades and gunfire, freeing about 300 prisoners. Southeast Asia: Torrential rains hit Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar, causing widespread flooding,
destroying hundreds of houses and crops, and triggering landslides and huge evacuations; at least seven were left dead. Africa: Nigeria:
Explosions rocked the city of Kano, killing at least ten in a predominately Christian area; it is believed that the attack was carried out by militants
from the Islamist group Boko Haram. Clashes between a vigilante force and the Islamist group Boko Haram, in the village of Dawashe, left at least twenty
villagers dead. Egypt: Mass marches continued to take place both for and against Morsi, and the continued clashes added to the number of dead and
injuried. In Cairo a dispute between street vendors over spaces lead to a mass brawl, killing at least twelve when a shop was set on fire. Libya: The
city of Benghazi was rocked by two expolsions outside buildings used by the judiciary, causing extensive damages and injuring at least ten, late evening
on the 28th. North America: US: Tropical Storm Flossie hit Hawaii with pounding surf, flooding rain and damaging winds. Torrents of rain reaching
more than eight inches (20 cm) in an hour, broke records and turned roads into rivers and submerged vehicles; rains came into the evening on the 28th.
Heavy storms brought strong winds, large hail and widespread flooding to Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. Atlantic: Tropical Depression Dorian
brought heavy rainfall and flooding to the Bahamas, and was expected to strengthen before hitting Florida. Solar Activity: Sunspot AR1800 on the
Sun's southwestern limb showed only a slight chance for an M-class flare.

August

mid-1st-mid-3rd -- Mid-Phase MODERATE

Mideast: Syria: The opposition fired rockets at a weapons depot in Homs, causing huge explosions that left at least forty dead and more than 120
injuried. An air attack on the town of Yabroud, just across the border from Lebanon, killed at least nine and caused widespread damages. Yemen: Clashes
between presidential guards and soldiers in the capital, Sanaa, left at least one dead and wounded at least six. Asia: China: A heatwave in the
city of Shanghai hit record high temperatures making it hot enough to fry meat on the pavement, leading to the first time for an emergency level-two
nationwide heat alert. Afghanistan: Special forces called for a US air strike during a clash with the Taliban which mistakenly killed at least five
Afghan policemen. Suicide car bombers targeted the Indian consulate in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, killing at least nine, injuring at least
23 and reaping widespread damages. Japan: Heavy rains triggered mudslides along the west coast, killing at least four. Pakistan and Afghanistan:
Torrential rains triggered monsoon floods that killed at least 80, displaced hundreds, caused extensive damages and destroyed farmland. North
America: US: Severe weather slammed areas from South Dakota and Nebraska to Kansas and Missouri with tennis-ball sized hail, damaging wind gusts
higher than 60 mph (97 kph), and isolated tornadoes. A slow-moving cold front triggered heavy thunderstorms with flash flooding from Pennsylvania into
New England. Severe flooding also hit many southern states, including North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Tornadoes touched down in Twin Bridges,
Montana, and in the Jacksonville area of Florida, during severe thunderstorms. A global travel alert was issued by the government's State Department, as
information indicated that there was an unspecified al-Qaeda threat, mainly in the Middle East and North Africa. The alert also closed all overseas
embassies and consulates in Muslim countries, and increased security at airports. The following day, Arizona was hit by a downpour of four inches (10 cm)
of rain in an hour that triggered flash floods of muddy water that covered roadways. Kansas was hit with ping-pong-ball sized hail and hurricane force
winds that damaged property. Australia: A tornado ripped through the town of Kingston causing widespread damages. Atlantic: Tropical
depression Dorian continued to produce torrential downpours and gusty squalls over the Bahamas. Pacific: Tropical Depression Jebi strengthened
with winds of 69 mph (111 kph) and gusts of 86 mph (139 kph), as it headed for Southeast Asia, and would likely hit North Vietnam. Solar Activity:
A coronal hole opened up on the Sun's northern hemisphere sending out a stream of solar wind that reached Earth on August 4th when it sparked a
geomagnetic storm and auroras.

6th -- New Moon (21h 51m) MODERATE

Mideast: Iraq: A series of car bomb attacks in and around Baghdad, hitting markets and shopping streets, killed at least 41 and wounded more than
100. Syria: Opposition forces captured a key airbase in Aleppo province where huge explosions caused extensive damages, as at least 64 opposition forces
were killed and an undisclosed number of government forces. Asia: Jammu and Kashmir: An ambush shooting in the Indian-administered region left five
Indian soldiers dead. Pakistan: Baloch Liberation Army gunman killed at least 13 of the 26 they abducted from a bus, because the passengers had military
credentials. Philippines: A car bomb exploded on a busy street in Cotabato city, Mindanao island, killing at least eight, injuring at least thirty,
destroying property and setting buildings on fire. Eastern Afghanistan and Pakistan: Torrential monsoon rains flooded the region killing at least 100
and destroying hundreds of homes, with more rain to follow. Africa: Tunisia: Tens of thousands of protesters demonstrated in Tunis to demand the
resignation of the Islamist-led government, after a prominent opposition politician was assassinated two weeks ago. North America: US:
Thunderstorms brought large hail, damaging winds, flooding rains and tornadoes across the Plains from Nebraska to Minnesota. The storms would continue
into the following days bringing widespread flooding to the nation's mid-section. South America: Argentina: A powerful gas-leak blast in a
residential building in Rosario killed at least eight and injuried more than sixty, while many still remained among the rubble; nearby buildings were
severely damaged. Central America: Honduras: A shootout between rival drug gangs in La Mosquitia, a remote region on the Atlantic coast, left at
least seventeen dead; the area is known to be a main transit route for cocaine. Solar Activity: The Moon passed in front of the Sun, producing a
partial solar eclipse. A solar wind stream hit Earth's magnetic field on the 5th-6th, producing a geomagnetic storm and auroras.

9th-10th -- Mid-Phase MODERATE

Mideast: Yemen: Three drone strikes killed at least fourteen suspected al-Qaeda militants in Wadi al-Jadd in the southern province of Hadramout.
The following day suspected al-Qaeda militants opened fire on a checkpoint near the Balhaf terminal in Shabwa province, killing five soliders. Iraq:
Baghdad was rocked by bombings and shootings near markets, cafes and restaurants, killing at least 69; the attacks appeared to be conducted by al-Qaeda.
Europe: UK: A Republican parade in Belfast City Centre was prevented from marching by loyalist protesters who confronted police and in the midst
of the insuing violence injuried 26 officers. Greece: A riot broke out at a migrant detention facility north of Athens after an announcement that they
could be held at the camp for 18 months instead of a year, detainees threw stones at the guards, injuring at least ten, and set fire to their bedding.
Asia: China: Heavy rain, strong winds and hail battered counties in Anhui, destroying houses, forcing road closures and cutting the power, killing
14. North Vietnam and South China: Tropical Storm Mangkhut brought heavy rains that flooded large agricultural areas and damaged or destroyed nearly
1,000 homes, and killed two. Pakistan: Gunmen opened fire outside a mosque in Quetta, killing at least nine and wounding at least twenty; it was not known
who was responsible. Afghanistan: Heavy rains triggered flash floods and mudslides that wiped out roads and agricultural land, washed away cars, and
destroyed houses, killing at least 22 in Kabul province; many were missing. Insurgents attacked NATO soliders in the province of Paktia, killing three.
Indonesia: Mount Rokatenda, on the island of Palue, erupted spewing ash and smoke into the air, forcing the evacuation of 3,000 and killing at least six.
Sri Lanka: A Buddhist mob attacked a mosque in the Grandpass area of Colombo, injuring at least five. Philippines: Typhoon Utor headed toward Luzon Island
where it struck near the Casapsapan Bay with winds of 80 to 140 mph (130-225 kph), as heavy rains triggered flooding; it was predicted to hit southeast
China or North Vietnam in the following days. Africa: Egypt: An airstrike in the Sinai peninsula killed five Islamist militants near the Israeli
border; it was not known who was responsible for the attack, though some claimed it was Israel. Sierra Leone: Heavy rains caused the Jimmy Bridge, in
Freetown, to collapse killing at least seven. Uganda: Landslides in the eastern Bududa District swallowed up five villages, killing one and injuring
seventeen. North America: US: Flash floods took place in parts of Alabama, Virginia, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas,
Oklahoma and Tennessee, killing at least three with some places getting as much as 12 to 18 inches (30-45 cm) in a day; more rains hit in the days that
followed. In Colorado heavy rains triggered flash floods and mudslides that swept away cars and houses. South America: Venezuela: Thunderstorms
rolled in and the following day lightning struck a storage tank at the Puerto La Cruz oil refinery sparking a huge fire. Atlantic: From New York
to Virginia about 120 dolphin corpses were found washed up on the shore; it was not known why. Solar Activity: Coronal mass ejections were
predicted to hit the Earth's magnetic field.

14th -- First Quarter (10h 56m) LOW

Mideast: Egypt: Government forces moved into camps to clear Morsi's supporters, killing at least 830 and injuring more than 2,000 across the
country; some claims were that the dead were in the thousands. Cairo was set ablaze, as destruction was widespread. Iraq: Two bombs exploded in the
city of Baquba, one at a cafe in the city's center and another on a street, killing at least 14 and wounding 26. Asia: Bangladesh: Violent
clashes between the police and opposition activists during a general strike, left one dead and at least twenty wounded. India: Two huge explosions and
a fire took place on an submarine berthed at a Mumbai dock likely killing the eighteen sailors on board. China: Typhoon Utor, said to be the strongest
typhoon of the year, made landfall with heavy rains and strong winds, leading Hong Kong to shut down schools and the stock market, and cancel flights,
as hundreds of thousands evacuated; at least two were killed. Africa: Libya: Members of the minority Berber, or Amazigh, community stormed the
parliament building in Tripoli, destroying furniture, smashing windows, and stealing government documents in a bid for recognition. North America:
US: Strong thunderstorms lashed the Southeast and Texas spawning a tornado in Sherman County. South America: Colombia: A 6.6 magnitude earthquake
shook near the city of Mutis (08-13; 08:43). Solar Activity: A huge coronal hole opened up on the Sun's northern hemisphere, sending out a stream
of solar wind that will reach Earth some time between August 16th and 18th.

17th-18th -- Mid-Phase LOW

Mideast: Syria/Iraq: As many as 10,000 refugees from Syria crossed the border at Peshkhabour into Iraqi Kurdistan; the reasons for doing so were
not yet clear. Lebanon: It was believed that Sunni Muslim militants bombed a Hezbollah area of a Beirut suburb, killing 22; it seemed that it was
retaliation for aiding the Syrian government in its civil war. Yemen: A wedding party was traveling in their vehicles when they were swept away by heavy
floodwaters, killing at least 27; elsewhere, several others were also killed by flash floods. Egypt: Detained members of the Muslim Brotherhood tried to
escape during their transfer to a prison outside Cairo when at least 36 were killed. Elsewhere, clashes killed 79 and wounded 549 amid the violence across
the country; Egyptian state television reported that the unrest was the result of "terrorism". Europe: The far east section of the country was
drenched by heavy rains causing the Amur river and a major tributary, the Zeya, to burst their banks in what was the worst flooding in 120 years -- more
than 20,000 had to be evacuated and the flood was not expected to receed until September, while more rains were forecast. Asia: Pakistan: Torrential
rain swept across the country hitting hundreds of villages, the worst hit was Punjab province, homes and roads were swept away, and widespread evacuations
took place. Afghanistan: Taliban militants -- armed with rocket propelled grenades and automatic weapons -- attacked a camp where a foreign-funded road
building project was underway in Herat province, killing at least ten. A roadside bomb in Helmand province was triggered by a van, killing at least five.
China: Heavy rains flooded the northeast provinces of Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang, and the south was hit by Typhoon Utor, making landfall in Guangdong
province. Hundreds of homes were flooded or destroyed, at least 164 were left dead, at least 115 were missing, crop failure was widespread, and more than
eight million in the northeast alone were affected by the floods. Phillipines: Tropical Storm Trami brought two days of record rainfall that would
eventually submerge many areas including half of Manila, stranding thousands, turning roads into rivers and killing at least seven. Japan: Sakura-jima
volcano underwent a large eruption that sent ash 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) above Kagoshima Bay; it was possibly the largest eruption ever from the
Showa Crater. Africa: Nigeria: Suspected Islamic militants, the Boko Haram, attacked a town in Damboa, in the northeast, killing at least 35.
Kenya: About 40 heavily armed members of Al-Shabab, a Somali militant group, attacked a police station, killing at least four policemen. Niger, Camaroon
and Chad: Torential rains brought widespread damages, leaving thousands homeless and killing at leat tweleve. North America: US: The Central
Gulf Coast and Southeast were affected by a stream of tropical moisture that brought flash flooding to the Southeast. South America: Paraguay:
Leftist rebels of the Paraguayan People's Army attacked a cattle ranch in Asuncion, kidnapping and killing five security guards; the government declared
a "maximum alert" following the incident. Atlantic: A new tropical wave moved into the eastern Atlantic, producing showers around the Cape Verde
islands, and was expected to strengthen in the following days. Indian Ocean: A 6.1 magnitude earthquake pushed the Southwest Indian Ridge section
of a tectonic plate (08-17; 09:32). Solar Activity: An M-class solar flare exploded sending a coronal mass ejection into space that could trigger
geomagnetic storms and auroras on the 20th to 21st.

21st -- Full Moon (1h 45m) LOW

Mideast: Syria: The government army lauched chemical-weapon-laden rockets into the suburbs of the Ghouta region of Damascus as part of a major
bombardment on opposition forces, killing 1,249 and injuring more than a thousand. Europe: Russia: Very heavy rains brought historic flooding to
the far eastern section of the country, forcing more than 10,000 from their homes, flooded large farmlands and inudated roadways; In the city of Khabarovsk,
the Amur River overflowed and forced mass evacuations of many of its 575,000 residents. Asia: China: A landslide in the southwest
Guizhou Province buried seven in Bijie City, killing five. Typhoon Trami strengthened and was headed towards southern China with winds of 75 mph (120
kph) and gusts of 92 mph (148 kph); the region has already been hit with major floods. The typhoon helped to generate a huge tidal bore in the
Qiantang River in the eastern Zhejiang Province, injuring 30; waves were as high as 65 feet (20 meters). Flash floods, brought on by torrential rains,
swept through Qinghai province, in the northwest, killing at least 21 construction workers. Pakistan and India: The two nations exchanged fire across the
Line of Control that divides the disputed territory of Kashmir, killing one Pakistani officer. North America: Mexico: A 6.2 magnitude earthquake
shook San Marcos (08-21; 05:38), and was followed by 5.2 magnitude aftershock. US: Severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, hail and torrential downpours
swept the Upper Midwest causing property damage and power outages, while two funnel clouds in Wisconsin may have been tornadoes. A huge sinkhole opened
up in the Louisiana swamps casuing the evacuation of 350 homes. Solar Activity: An erupting magnetic filament sent a coronal mass ejection into
space that should reach Earth on the 23rd. Meanwhile, the Earth was already passing through a coronal mass ejection at the same time. A small sungrazing
comet plunged into the Sun on the 20th.

24th-25th -- Mid-Phase MODERATE

Mideast: Iraq: A wave of bomb attacks, mostly in and around Baghdad and Baquba, left at least 46 dead, dozens injuried and widespread damages.
Yemen: A bomb blast struck a bus transporting air force personnel to their base in Sanaa, killing at least one (possibly six) and wounding at least twenty;
it was believed to have been carried out by al-Qaeda. Lebanon: Two huge bomb attacks rocked the city of Tripoli, killing at least 42 and wounding more
than 200, on the 23rd. Europe: Czech Republic: Hundreds of far-right protesters that participated in anti-Roma marches in towns and cities clashed
with police by throwing stones. UK: Widespread flooding overwhelmed Essex. Asia: Pakistan: Large parts of the country were under water in Punjab
and Sindh provinces, affecting nearly one million, washing away roads and bridges, and leaving tens of thousands homeless. Myanmar (Burma): Rioters burned
Muslim-owned houses and shops around the town of Kanbalu, after police refused to hand over a Muslim man who was accused of raping a Buddhist woman, at
least 43 were killed, mostly Muslims. The event set off clashes in at least three other towns and left at least 12,000 Rohingya Muslims displaced.
Africa: Tunisia: Thousands rallied in front of the National Assembly in Tunis calling for the Islamist-led government to resign. Democratic
Republic of Congo: UN forces shelled positions held by M23 rebels near Goma, after the rebels attacked a day earlier, at least 82 were killed. Nigeria:
Islamic militants, known as the Boko Haram, killed at least 20 members of vigilante groups that were fighting against them in the northeastern state of
Borno. North America: Mexico: A cargo train transporting Central American migrants hoping to reach the US derailed in the south, killing at least
five and injuring at least 35. Tropical Storm Fernand formed in the Bay of Campeche and made landfall bringing torrential rain to the eastern part of
Mexico, killing at least 13 in landslides triggered by the heavy rain. US: Torrential rains from Tropical Storm Ivo swept parts of Arizona, Utah and
Nevada triggering flash floods and closing roads. In the Midwest and Plains record temperatures began a long-duration and dangerous heat wave that was
expected to last for days. South America: Colombia: An ambush by Farc left-wing rebels in Arauca province killed at least thirteen Colombian
soldiers. Solar Activity: A coronal mass ejection triggered a geomagnetic storm and auroras on the 25th.

28th -- Last Quarter (9h 35m) MODERATE

Mideast: Iraq: At least ten separate bombings blasted parts of Baghdad killing at least 68 and injuring more than 200 in mainly Shia neighborhoods.
Syria: Tens of thousands migrated away from the country as the US, UK, France and other countries consider bombing strategic government sites as a response
to the chemical weapon attack on the 21st that killed at 1,249. In a related event more than 300 migrants, mostly Syrians, were rescued from two
overcrowded boats off Sicily. Asia: India: A building collapse in the western city of Vadodara killed at least eleven with dozens still buried in
the debris of a three-story apartment building; a second building also collapsed but was empty. Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo: UN
peacekeepers continued to battle with M23 rebels near Goma, killing at least one peacekeeper and injuring at least three. Mali: Torrential rains triggered
flash floods in Bamako, washing away homes and buildings, and killing at least twenty-four. North America: Tropical
Storm Juliette, off the coast of Baja California, continued to pump moisture into the Southwest triggering flash flooding and dust storms in Arizona,
southern California, Nevada and Utah. Widespread rain and storms soaked the mid-atlantic states as the heat wave continued in the Midwest and Plains.
Mexico: Tropical storm Juliette brought rain, wind and rough surf to Baja California. South America: Brazil: A factory under construction collapsed
in the city of Sao Paulo, killing at least eight and injuring at least 26. Pacific: Tropical Storm Kong-rey, having brought heavy rainfall to
parts of the northern Philippines, strengthened into a category I Typhoon and headed towards Taiwan and Japan where it brought heavy rains and floods.
A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck 179 miles (288 km) northwest of Raoul Island, New Zealand (08-27; 19:54). Solar Activity: The interplanetary
magnetic field around Earth tilted south, triggering rich auroras and polar geomagnetic storms.

See first entry under September for August 31st.

September

August 31st-September 1st -- Mid-Phase MODERATE

Mideast: Iraq: Government forces fired mortars at Camp Ashraf, a camp for dissident Iranians, killing dozens of the Mujahideen-e Khalq group; two
Iraqi soliders were also killed. Asia: China: A chemical leak took place in the commercial hub of Shanghai, killing at least fifteen and injuring
dozens. Floods and heavy rain affected more than 5.2 million in the Sino-Russian bordering province of Heilongjiang, flooding 904 towns, destroying
18,300 houses, closing roads and displacing 331,000. Afghanistan: A suicide bomber exploded outside a bank in the city of Kandahar, killing five and
causing extensive property damage. Kashmir: A clash with security forces in the Indian-administered area of the country left at least five militants
dead; the security forces returned fire after the militants attacked. Indonesia: A 6.5 magnitude earthquake shook Kepulauan Barat Daya Islands (09-01;
04:52); the quake was felt in Australia. Papua New Guinea: A 6.1 magnitude earthquake rattled an area 32 miles (54 km) west southwest of Panguna (09-01;
21:30). Africa: Nigeria: Islamist militants, the Boko Haram, attacked vigilantes in an ambush near the town of Monguno in Borno state, killing at
least 24; another 36 were missing. Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Camaroon, and Ghana: Heavy rains lasting two days submerged a large area leaving hundreds
homeless and killing at least thirteen. North America: US: Veniaminof volcano, in Alaska, erupted with lava fountains and ash emissions reaching
15-20,000 feet (4.5-6 km) altitude. Heavy rain swept Boston and Southern California bringing flash floods, as North Dakota was hit with a tornado and
the Midwest was soaked. South America: Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay: Unusually cold weather and heavy snowfall swept the region, killing a least
six, affecting more than 33,000 and freezing to death tens of thousands of animals; a 20-day-long state of emergency was issued in Peru. Pacific:
Kiko began as a depression just off the western coast of Mexico, strengthened into a tropical storm and then weakened. Solar Activity: A coronal
mass ejection swept past Earth triggering geomagnetic storms and multiple auroras.

Note: Some events from now into early October will occur off the lunar phase aspects of the calendar, and this period tends
to be one of the more active times of the year. This situation is the result of a dominance of the solar-terrestrial linkage due to Earth's orbit in
relation to the Sun. These events will be noted in the calendar on the nearest lunar phase date, and the date of the event will be shown.

5th -- New Moon (11h 36m) MODERATE

Mideast: Iraq: A series of car bomb attacks and shootings in mainly Shia districts of Baghdad killed more than 75 over previous days. Europe:
UK: Thick fog on the Sheppey crossing in Kent caused more than 130 vehicles to crash, injuring more than sixty. Heavy rains triggered flooding that
overwhelmed a newly built flood protection system in Redcar, sweeping cars away and destroying homes, on the 6th. Asia: Japan: A series of rare
tornadoes damaged thousands of homes and injuried dozens of people over the last few days. A 6.5 magnitude earthquake rattled Izu Islands (09-03; 17:18).
Sakurajima volcano exploded with such force that it damaged cars nearby as it continued in a state of elevated activity. North Vietnam: Heavy rains
triggered floods and landslides that left at least 21 dead. Philippines: A 6.0 magntiude earthquake rocked an area 27 miles (43 km) east-southeast of
Uyugan (09-06; 04:33). Africa: Egypt: A bomb attack targeted Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim convoy in
Cairo, destroying four of the vehicles of his entourage, as well as shops and buildings nearby. North America: US: A 6.5 magnitude earthquake
rattled an area southwest of Atka, Alaska (09-03; 19:32) followed by numerous aftershocks over two days ranging into 5 and 6 magnitudes. Waves of cold
air masses swept the Northeast, as Southern California was hit with a heat wave with temperatures soar into the 90s and 100s. Central America:
Costa Rica: A 6.0 magntiude earthquake rocked an area 31 miles (50 km) west of Sardinal (09-05; 05:29). Guatemala: A 6.6 magnitude earthquake shook an
area 3 miles (5 km) east southeast of Ciudad Tecun Uman (09-06; 17:13). Atlantic: A 6.0 magntiude earthquake accompanied the spreading Northern
Mid-Atlantic Ridge (09-04; 21:01). Tropical Storm Gabrielle hit from the Virgin Islands to Puerto Rico with drenching rains and strong winds. Another
tropical system began to form over the southwestern part of the Gulf of Mexico. Pacific: Tropical Depression 12E strengthened into Tropical
Storm Lorena off the west coast of Mexico and appeared to be headed towards Baja California.

8th-9th -- Mid-Phase HIGH

Mideast: Egypt: A major offensive attack by the Egyptian army in Sinai left at least nine Islamist militants dead and dozens wounded, on the 7th.
Europe: France: Violent storms with heavy rainfall swept Castellet Belgentier, La Crau and parts of Var. Asia: Afghanistan: Taliban suicide
bombers attacked the headquarters of the provincial intelligence department in Wardak, killing at least four staff, injuring more than 100 nearby (mostly
civilians), and causing widespread damages. Toorential rains triggered floods and landslides in the northeast, killing at least 46; at least twenty were
missing. Indonesia: Mount Lokon Volcano in Tomohon, North Sulawesi, erupted, spewing volcanic material from the Tompaluan Lokon crater up to nearly a
mile (1.5 km) into the air and lava flows reached several northern villages. An eruption of Paluweh (also known as Rokatenda or Palue) deposited a
pyroclastic flow to the north, killing five, on the 10th. China: An explosion outside a school in
Guilin, Guangxi province, killed two and injuried seventeen; the source of the explosion was unknown. Philippines: Clashes between government troops and
hundreds of suspected Muslim rebels who were members of the Moro National Liberation Front, in Zamboanga, a city in Mindanao, left at least six dead and
dozens wounded. India: Violent clashes between Hindus and Muslims in Muzaffarnagar, in the northern Uttar Pradesh state, left at least 28 dead and more
than 50 injuried; 800 troops were deployed to control the situation which included curfews. Africa: Nigeria: Clashes between suspected Islamist
militants, the Boko Haram, and a vigilante group defending the town of Benisheik in Borno state, left at least 18 dead. Somalia: The Somali Islamist
militant group al-Shabab used a car bomb and a suicide bomber to attack a popular restaurant in Mogadishu, killing at least fifteen, on the 7th. Tunisia:
In a heavy exchange of gunfire, in the Mornagia district, two suspected members of the Ansar al-Sharia militant group were killed and two others, including
the group's leader, were arrested. Central African Republic: Violent clashes between former rebels and forces loyal to a president that was ousted in
March, left at least 60 dead and dozens wounded. North America: US: Tropical Storm Lorena pumped moisture into the Southwest triggering flash
flooding, gusty winds and dust storms. Torrential rain swamped parts of Utah triggering flash floods and mudslides that left widespread damages, flooded
houses with up to three feet (1 m) of water and forced evacuations. Heavy rains also hit a large part of Arizona, southern Nevada and southeastern
California. Meanwhile, intense heat swept across the central and southern Plains, causing record heat and extreme temperatures to hit parts of Nebraska,
Missouri, Kansas and Illinois. Central America: Guatemala: A group of armed men attacked people in a bar in the town of San Jose Nacahuil, killing
at least 11 and wounding 15; no reason was known, but it was suppected to be a criminal gang. A bus plunged 660 feet (200 m) into a ravine in the west,
killing at least 43 and injuring 40; the cause was unknown. Atlantic: A low-pressure system over western Africa, that dumped heavy rains on Dakar,
Senegal, moved into the eastern Atlantic as Tropical Depression 9, which then developed into Tropical Storm Humberto headed for the Cape Verde Islands.
Solar Activity: A coronal hole emerged over the northeast limb of the Sun, otherwise the Sun was fairly quiet.

12th -- First Quarter (17h 08m) HIGH

Mideast: Iraq: Two bombings near a mosque in the largely Shia district of Kasra, in Baghdad, killed at least 35 and wounded at least 55 as they were
leaving evening prayers, on the 11th. Egypt: A double suicide-bomb attack on the Sinai peninsula, outside the military intelligence headquarters in Rafah
and at a nearby checkpoint, killed six soliders and wounded seventeen, on the 11th. Europe: Romania: Heavy rains triggered flash floods in the
eastern Galati region killing at least eight, forcing the evacuation of hundreds, and destroying hundreds of homes. Turkey: Anti-government demonstrators
and police clashed, as protesters threw stones at the police, who then responded with tear gas and water cannons. Asia: Philippines: Government
troops battled with Muslim rebels of the Moro National Liberation Front who entered parts of Zamboanga city, in some cases using an unknown number of
civilians as human shields; the number of dead and wounded were not known. Kashmir: A man was killed by police during a government imposed curfew,
leading to a strike in protest when residents hurled stones and demanded that the police be removed. Indonesia: Lokon volcano, in North Sulawesi,
erupted several times with small explosions and ash emissions. Japan: Sakurajima volcano exploded with an ash plume that reached 14,000 feet (4.2 km) in
altitude. Suwanose-jima volcano also exploded with an ash plume that rose above the Ontake crater to an altitude of 6,000 feet (1.8 km). Africa:
Somalia: An early-morning attack in a village southwest of Mogadishu, killed two top Islamist militants after a falling out with the Islamist-militant
group al-Shabab. Malia: Government forces clashed with separatist Tuareg rebels near the western town of Lere, injuring three soliders; each side
claimed that the other broke a long-standing truce. North America: US: A severe storm dumped seven inches (17 cm) of rain within three hours on
parts of Colorado, causing flash floods that lead to the evacuation of hundreds of homes and university dorms, closed roads, and destroyed a bridge and
an earthen dam, killing six; the storm turned back on the region several times. A quickly spreading fire ravaged a beachside boardwalk in New Jersey,
damaging or destroying about 50 businesses in an area that was just recovering from the devastation left by Super Storm Sandy. Mexico: Teachers clashed
with the police, during the latest protest against education reforms, which brought traffic in Mexico City to a standstill, as protests also took place
in ten states. South America: Chile: Protests marking the anniversary of the 1973 military coup lead to clashes between protesters and police,
injuring 43 police and leading to at least 260 arrests. The protesters also set fire to dozen cars and buses, and severed electricity lines, prompting
power cuts in 200,000 homes in Santiago on the night of the 11th. Atlantic: Tropical depression 10 formed near the southern Bay of Campeche, in
the Gulf of Mexico, spreading flooding downpours into eastern Mexico. Tropical Storm Humberto strengthened to become the first hurricane of the 2013
Atlantic Hurricane season. Solar Activity: A magnetic filament erupted around the Sun's southeastern limb, sending a coronal mass ejection into
space away from Earth, on the 11th.

15th-16th -- Mid-Phase HIGH

Mideast: Iraq: A suicide bomber targeted the funeral of a member of the Shabak people, near Mosul, killing at least twenty. The following day, a
wave of bombs made rubble of mostly Shia areas, killing more than 40 across the country. Asia: Philippines: Government soldiers closed in on
Muslim rebels whose group stormed the southern city of Zamboanga nearly a week ago, forcing thousands to flee, and at least 50 rebels were killed and 40
more were captured; an additional 60,000 fled their homes. Afghanistan: Part of the Abkhorak coal mine collapsed, killing at least 27 and injuring eighteen.
Pakistan: A roadside bomb, close to the border with Afghanistan, killed two top military officers and a soldier; Pakistani Taliban claimed responsiblity.
Indonesia: Sumatra's Sinabung volcano erupted forcing more than 15,000 to evacuate their homes in nearby villages. Africa: Rwanda: Grenade blasts in the
capital, Kigali, killed two and injuried eighteen. Indonesia: Sunda Islands' Batu Tara volcano erupted explosively sending an ash plume 7,000 feet (2.1
km) into the air. Thailand: Heavy monsoon rains flooded 25 provinces, resulting in 6,900 houses, 450,000 acres of farmland, 2,310 roads and 145 bridges to
be damaged, and affecting 2.7 million people and killing at least 31 while the floods persisted. North America: Mexico: Tropical storm Ingrid
strengthened in a Category I and then Category II Hurricane making landfall along the eastern section of the country, bringing torrential rains that
triggered flash flooding and mudslides, and killed at least twenty-one. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Manuel strengthened into a Category I Hurricane headed
for the western section of the country bringing heavy rain to the Pacific coast communities from Zihatanejo to Manzanillo, and also triggering flash
floods and mudslides. At least 80 were killed and 58 were missing after a mudslide swept them away. The looting of stores within the cities was
widespread. US: Colorado continued to be hit by heavy rains, stranding more than 1,000 residents, and thousands were unaccounted for in what was declared
a major disaster; many houses and cars were washed away. There would be weeks of no power and drinking water. At this point 30 bridges, 120 miles of
rails and many roadways were destroyed, and 19,000 homes were either severely damaged or destroyed, and eight people were killed and 11,750 evacuated.
Toxic chemicals, gasoline and sewage spread throughout the ravaged areas. New Mexico was also swamped by heavy rains that triggered widespread flooding.
A 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit near Atka, Alaska (09-15; 09:21). Pacific: Tropical storm Man-Yi became a Category I Typhoon headed for Japan and
appears to be aiming at Tokyo, hitting central Japan the storm's heavy rains triggered landslides and flooding, killing at least two and causing the
evacuation of 375,000. Solar Activity: A weak stream of solar wind buffeted Earth's magnetic field, triggering polar auroras.

19th -- Full Moon (11h 13m) MAXIMUM

Mideast: Egypt: Government forces raided the Muslim Brotherhood stronghold of Kerdasa, triggering a major gun battle, killing a general; At least 55
suspected militants were arrested. Yemen: al-Qaeda militants undertook simultaneous attacks on army targets in the south, killing at least 40 soliders,
on the 20th. Europe: Greece: Violent clashes broke out in several cities after a left-wing musician was stabbed to death by a member of the
neo-Nazi party, Golden Dawn, on the 18th. Asia: Bangladesh: Clashes broke out between police, and protesters who support the Jamaat-e-Islami
party, in the town of Mujibnagar, during the second day of a strike over the death sentence handed to an Islamist leader; two were killed and propery
was destroyed. Indonesia: Papua New Guinea's Bagana volcano exploded sending ash plumes to altitudes of 8,000 to 9,000 feet (2.4-2.7 km). A 6.1
magnitude earthquake hit northwest of Nggilat (09-20; 18:39). Afghanistan: A Taliban ambush in northern Badakhshan province killed at least 18 and
wounded 13 Afghan police, on the 20th. Africa: Nigeria: An attack by Boko Haram militants in the northeastern state of Borno left at least 87
dead and widespread destruction. Fake checkpoints were setup outside the town of Benisheik where they shot dead those trying to flee, causing thousands
of extra troops to be sent to the area. North America: Mexico: Hurricane Manuel, which had done extensive damge to the southwest, weakened in
previous days, but again strengthened into a Category I Hurricane and hit the western mainland north of Culiacan, dumping torrential rains on Sinaloa
state that triggered flash floods. There it destroyed houses and roads, caused extensive flooding, and forced major evacuations. In the village of La
Pintada a landslide mostly wiped out the town where dozens were killed, and about 68 were missing and presumed dead. More than 100,000 were affected by
the hurricane, as the death toll reached at least 110 (with the missing, at least 178). Meanwhile, the Southeast was also again under a major flood alert.
Atlantic: A tropical depression began to form in the Gulf of Mexico that appeared to be headed to become a major tropical storm, called Jerry, that
would bring more flooding to the mainland or a major storm that would hit Mexico's Yucatan Pennisula. A large system of showers and thunderstorms east of
the Bahamas appeared to be on the way to develop a major storm that was headed for Bermuda and possibly the east coast of North America, as far as
Newfoundland. South America: Venezuela: Violence between rival gangs inside a jail in the western city of Maracaibo, left at least 16 dead.
Pacific: Typhoon Usagi strengthened into a Super Typhoon headed for southern China and North Vietnam with winds of 161 mph (259 kph) and gusts
of 196 mph (315 kph). Solar Activity: A stream of solar wind continued to engluf the Earth, causing numerous polar auroras.

22nd-23rd -- Mid-Phase and the Equinox, 22nd MAXIMUM

Mideast: Iraq: Bomb attacks hit near a funeral in the mainly Shia Muslim Sadr City district of Baghdad, killing at least 60 and injuring at least
120. Israel: A shooting in the West Bank city of Hebron killed a soldier on patrol; a day earlier a solider was found dead near the northern West Bank
town of Qalqilya. Asia: Pakistan: Two suicide bombings outside a church in Peshawar left at least 80 dead and wounded more than 120; the event
lead to mass protests and vigils asking for better government protection for Christians. A 7.7 magnitude earthquake tore into Baluchistan’s Awadar district,
destroying 90% of the homes there, killing at least 515, injuring at least 500, and creating a new island off the southwest coast in the Arabian Sea
(09-24; 04:29). China, Phillipines, Taiwan and North Vietnam: Super Typhoon Usagi began with winds over 150 mph (240 kph), but then hit China with winds
of 103 mph (165 kph), slammed the southern part of the country with heavy rains, pounding surf and wisespread flooding, killing at least 33, as cars and
houses were swept away. It also shut down most of Hong Kong, and tens of thousands had to be evacuated in some areas. The Philippines were also hit,
causing floods and landslides that left at least 30 dead. It had also wrecked havoc in Taiwan with heavy rains, strong winds and landslides. It would
also hit North Vietnam with heavy rains and flooding. Overall, for all four countries the death toll was closing in on 100. Afghanistan: Three
NATO troops in the east of the country were killed by a man wearing a uniform of the Afghan security force; it was suspected that the Taliban were
responsible. Africa: Kenya: The terrorist group, al-Shabab, opened fire on people in a large mall, killing at least 72 and wounding at least 170;
63 were still missing, about 1,000 were rescued and parts of the mall collapsed. Bombs and fires destroyed much of the mall. Central America: Guatemala:
Santiaguito volcano exploded, sending lava and pyroclastic flows in all directions, and spewed an ash cloud 14,765 feet (4,500 m) into the air; the
explosions could be heard more than 12 miles (20 km) away. North America: Florida was drenched with heavy rains and flash floods. Solar
Activity: A coronal hole opened up in the Sun's northern hemisphere sending a coronal mass ejection into space. "Aurora season" began with the
equinox, the 22nd.

27th -- Last Quarter (3h 55m) MAXIMUM

Asia: Pakistan: A 6.8 magnitude earthquake (09-28; 00:34) -- an aftershock of the last phase's 7.7 magnitude earthquake (see 22nd-23rd) -- destroyed
most of the town of Nokjo in the western province of Baluchistan, killing at least another 15 (the toll was expected to rise). A bus was bombed near the
city of Peshawar, killing at least 17 and injuring at least 34. India: Once again, a four-story residential building collapsed in the city of Mumbai,
killing at least 42 and injuring at least 33. Africa: Nigeria: A boat sunk on the River Niger in central Nigeria, killing at least 42, while
another 100 were still missing. Sudan: After days of protests over fuel subsidy cuts, security forces shot dead at least 50 protesters. North
America: Mexico: Acapulco was hit by heavy rains that brought more floods, causing mass evacuations, closing schools, bringing widespread damages,
and broke rain records for the month of September. US: A powerful winter-like storm -- the first wave of the remnants of Typhoon Pabuk -- closed in on
the Pacific Northwest that would bring disastrous flooding, damaging winds with hurricane force and dangerous seas; power outages and damages were
widespread. Pacific: Tropical Depression Wutio, strengthened into a Category I Typhoon with winds of 63 mph (102 kph) and gusts of 81 mph (130
kph), and headed for Southeast Asia in the region of Vietnam. Solar Activity: Circum-polar auroras filled the skies of the polar regions.

See the first entry under October for September 30th.

October

September 30th-October 1st -- Mid-Phase MAXIMUM

Mideast: Iraq: Thirteen car bombs targeted markets and parking lots in mainly Shia Muslim districts of Baghdad, killing at least 47 and injuring
more than 100. Yemen: Thirty gun-toating al-Qaeda militants in army uniforms attacked a compound in the port city of Mukalla, killing at least three
soldiers; two attackers were also killed. Libya: A gas facility was taken over by gunmen near the town of Nalut, predominantly inhabited by members
of the Berber (Amazigh) minority, causing severe power outages in an attempt to force the drafting of a new constitution. Palestine/Israel: Israeli
troops shot at two Palestinians along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, killing one. Asia: China and Vietnam: The region was hit with
strong winds and heavy rains from Typhoon Wutip, damaging or destroying more than 100,000 homes, and killing at least 65. Myanmar (Burma): A new outbreak
of sectarian violence took place between Buddhists and Muslims after an argument that led to physical attacks and the destruction of property, including
the burning of houses. Papua New Guinea: Ulawun volcano entered a strong eruptive phase sending an ash plume 12,000 ft (3.6 km) into the air. Africa:
Mali: Tuareg rebel gunmen attacked soldiers guarding a bank in the city of Kidal sparking a gun battle that lasted days; causualties were not known.
North America: US: The remnants of Typhoon Pabuk again came with a second punch that contributed to flooding in the Northwest where rain totals
reached 4-8 inches (100-200 mm) in a number of places, with Washington hit the most; a number of places had record rains for the month of September. In
Washington state, Astoria got 10.7 inches (272 mm) -- previous record: 8.66 in (220 mm) -- and Olympia got 9.2 inches (234 mm) -- previous record: 7.59
in (193 mm) of rain. Mexico: The heavy flooding from rains during the last two lunar phases brought alligators inland, killing one boy and injuring
others. Australia: Melbourne was slammed by the third strongest, hurricane-force winds of 87 mph (140 kph), causing power outages and widespread
damages. Atlantic: Tropical Depression Eleven strengthened into Tropical Storm Jerry in the north Atlantic. Pacific: Tropical Storm Wutip
strengthened into a Category III Typhoon with winds of 92 mph (148 kph) and gusts of 115 mph (185 kph), and is yet another typhoon that swamped Southeast
Asia. Strong winds from the typhoon caused three fishing boats to sink in the South China Sea, and at least 70 people were missing, afterwhich it hit
Vietnam and China. Typhoon Fitow headed straight for South China, which had already been hit by Typhoon Wutip. New Zealand: A 6.5 magnitude
earthquake stuck northeast of L'Esperance Rock (09-29; 22:55). A 6.7 magnitude earthquake rocked the Sea of Okhotsk, a marginal sea of the western
Pacific, near Russia's Kamchatka peninsula (09-30; 20:38). Solar Activity: A magnetic filament erupted from the Sun's northern hemisphere, sending
a coronal mass ejection (CME) into space. The CME sparked geomagnetic storms and auroras on October 2nd.

5th -- New Moon (0h 34m) HIGH

Mideast: Egypt: Supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi clashed with opponents and security forces in Cairo, killing at least 50 and injuring
more than 200 amid tear gas, gunfire and explosions. Iraq: A suicide bomber destroyed a school near Tal Afar, killing 12 children and a teacher, and
injuring at least ninety. Libya: Gunmen attacked a military checkpoint near Bani Walid, southeast of Tripoli, killing 15 soldiers and injuring several.
Asia: China: Typhoon Fitow, with winds up to 93 mph (151 kph), made land fall in the eastern province of Fujian, bringing heavy rains, pounding
surf, power outages, destroying homes and causing the evacuation of hundreds of thousands. In Zhejiang, 574,000 and in Fujian, 177,000 had to evacuate
their homes, as a red alert -- the highest alert -- was ordered by the government. Afghanistan: A roadside bomb exploded, killing four NATO soliders in
the south of the country. North America: US: Tropical Storm Karen formed in the southeast of the Gulf of Mexico, bringing damaging winds, heavy
rain and high tides towards Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. The government shutdown posed further dangers as rescue workers and government
agencies were unavailable. Blizzard-like conditions hit eastern Wyoming, western South Dakota and northwestern Nebraska, closing highways, canceling
flights and causing power outages. Unable to adapt to the early cold, tens of thousands of cattle froze to death, causing widespread economic problems in
the beef industry. Severe thunderstorms swept from Oklahoma to Wisconsin, bringing damaging wind gusts between 40 and 60 mph (64-97 kph),
large hail and tornadoes that brought widespread damages. One tornado slammed into Wayne, Nebraska, destroying homes and causing power outages. Heavy
rain brought flooding to Louisville, Kentucky, forcing the evacuations of some locations; it was the wettest October 5th on record with 5.91 inches (150
mm) of rain. Pacific: A 6.0 magnitude earthquake shock the Mariana Islands (10-06; 09:38). Typhoon Danas strengthened into a Category IV Typhoon
headed for Japan and South Korea. Indian Ocean: A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck southeast of Amsterdam Island (10-04; 10:26). Solar
Activity: An eruption of a southern hemisphere sunspot sent a coronal mass ejection into space away from Earth.

7th-8th -- Mid-Phase HIGH

Mideast: Iraq: A series of at least six deadly bomb-blasts hit Baghdad, killing at least 22 and injuring dozens; again mainly Shia districts were
affected. Egypt: Two attacks in Ismailiya and Sinai killed at least nine Egyptian soldiers and police officers, as rockets also hit a government-run
satellite station in Cairo; it appears that these attacks came from supporters of the ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. Europe: Russia:
Klyuchevskoy volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula erupted with steady lava flows and ash ejections. Asia: Bangladesh: Another clothing factory
caught fire near Dhaka, killing at least nine and injuring about 50. China: Powerful Typhoon Fitow packing winds of 93 mph (151 kph) dumped 8 inches (200
mm) of rain flooding villages and farmlands, destroying houses and killing at least five; more than 4.5 million were affected. Weeks later Yuyao City
was severely flooded and had no food or water relief from the government, leading to thousands protesting. Tibet: Chinese police fired
into a crowd of protesters, injuring at least 60 Tibetans. Africa: Central African Republic: Fighting between former rebels and local security
forces broke out in Garga village, killing at least 30 and wounding dozens; local residents claim as many as 60 were killed. Mali: Islamist militants blew
up a bridge that stretched over the River Niger, near Gao; the al-Qaeda-linked group, Mujao, claimed responsiblity. Algeria: Heavy rains brought flash
flooding to a region south of Algiers as two rivers overflowed their banks in Djelfa, killing seven. North America: US: Heavy rain
and unseasonable snow swept from California to the Rocky Mountains. South America: Brazil: A peaceful protest in support of teachers receiving
higher wages was hijacked by violent hooded groups in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo were they clashed with police and damaged property. Pacific: New
Zealand: A tornado swept through Auckland's North Shore causing damage and power outages in Devonport. Tropical Storm Danas strengthened into a Category
I Typhoon headed for northern Japan. It had already pounded parts of the Ryukyu Islands, and then weakened in a tropical storm again drenching parts of
Japan and southern South Korea with heavy rainfall, that brought flooding and damaging winds. A 6.2 magnitude earthquake pushed the West Chile Rise in
the South Pacific (10-06; 14:33). A 6.0 magnitude earthquake shook the northwest area near the Mariana Islands (10-06; 09:38). Solar Activity: An
interplanetary shock wave, maybe the leading edge of a coronal mass ejection, hit Earth's magnetic field triggering a geomagnetic storm and auroras around
the Arctic Circle.

11th -- First Quarter (23h 02m) HIGH

Mideast: Egypt: A boat capsized near the port of Alexandria, killing at least 12, while about another 116 were rescued; most of them were
Palestinians and Syrians. A suicide car bomb exploded in northern Sinai, just south of the the town of el-Arish, killing at least four and wounding five
security forces, on the 10th. Europe: Mediterranean: A boat carrying more than 200 migrants capsized in the Mediterranean, killing at least 27,
while 120 were rescued by Italian and Maltese ships and helicopters. Russia: A new lava vent opened between Klyuchevskoy volcano and neighboring Kamen
volcano, on the Kamchatka Peninsula, producing a fountain of lava and ejecting ash 23,000 feet (7,000 m) into the air. Asia: India: Cyclone
Phailin, with winds of 136 mph (220 kph), swept through the Bay of Bengal towards the east coast, bringing heavy rains and a storm surge of at least 10
feet (3 m). Mud houses were destroyed and widespread flooding occurred, while more than 200,000 were forced to evacuate. High levels of casualties
were expected in what was called the worst typhoon in a decade, but only 25 were killed. Africa: Libya: A car bomb exploded outside the Swedish
consulate in Benghazi, causing extensive damages, though there were no reported casualities. Mali: A boat carrying hundreds of passengers capsized on
the River Niger, killing at least 72 and injuring eleven. North America: US: A strong, slow-moving Nor'easter
drenched and pounded the East Coast, flooding parts of New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina. Pacific: A 6.3 magnitude earthquake
struck northeast of L'Esperance Rock, New Zealand (10-11; 14:24). Typhoon Nari strengthend into a Category IV Typhoon with winds of 121 mph (194 kph),
gusts of 150 mph (241 kph), and heavy rains, as it headed for the Phillipines and then Southeast Asia. It then hit the northern region of the Phillipines
causing major flooding, landslides and wind damage, killing at least twenty. Solar Activity: The farside of the Sun's
northeastern limb erupted with an M-1.5 X-ray flare and a huge coronal mass ejection. The region then rotated around to the Earthside, sending Earth-
directed solar activity in the following days.

14th-15th -- Mid-Phase HIGH

Mideast: Iraq: A bomb blast took place outside of a Sunni mosque in the city of Kirkuk as worshippers left the Qodus mosque, following morning
prayers, killing at least twelve. Europe: Russia: Police arrested more than 1,200 in a raid that targeted migrants following major riots in Moscow.
Italy: More than 500 people in the city of Albano Laziale clashed with Nazi sympathisers who were performing funeral service for the Nazi war criminal,
Erich Priebke; the funeral was cancelled as a result. Asia: Vietnam: Typhoon Nari hit the country with heavy rains that triggered widespread
flooding and causing the evacuation of tens of thousands. Bangladesh: A rare tornado swept into two villages in Sadar upazila of Meherpur, damamging over
100 homes, schools and buildings, and injuring at least 25. India: Rumors that a bridge near the Ratangarh temple was about to collapse triggered panic
that lead to the death of at least 115 and injuried at least 110 who were either crushed by the paniced crowd or jumped into the river and drowned, on the
13th. Philippines: A 7.2 magnitude earthquake rattled an area 1.25 miles (2 km) northeast of Catigbian (10-14; 17:12), bringing widespread damages to the
city of Bohlo and the province of Cebu, destroying houses, churches and schools, killing at least 184 and injuring dozens. Afghanistan: A bomb hidden
in a microphone went off as the govenor of Logar was greeting worshippers entering a mosque, killing the govenor and injuring at least 18, many critically.
Japan: Typhoon Wipha strengthend into a Category IV Typhoon with winds of 121 mph (194 kph) and gusts of 150 mph (241 kph) as it headed for the coast of
Japan, affecting tens of millions of people. Typhoon Wipha -- called a "once-in-a-decade typhoon" -- caused widespread damages, heavy rain and power
outages, killing at least fourteen. It then was expected to hit the eastern coastal region of Hokkaido, Japan the next day. Thailand: Heavy rains began
bringing record floods that affected 68 provinces, 670,000 homes and hundreds of thousands of people. North America: Mexico:
Tropical Storm Octave drenched Baja California with heavy rain, while a small plane carrying at least 14 went missing. US: Tropical Storm Octave brought
more heavy rain to already flooded parts of Texas, causing widespread flooding, as heavy rain and hail pelted parts of Colorado. South America:
Brazil: Peaceful marchs by thousands of teachers seeking better wages was again disrupted in Rio de Janeiro by a much smaller masked group who damaged
shops, set fire to a police car and threw gasoline bombs during clashes with police. A similar scene occurred in Sao Paulo where shops were also damaged
and there were also clashes with police. Central America: Guatemala: Fuego volcano sent off explosions that rattled windows and roofs of houses
in nearby villages, spewed lava and sent a column of ash 3,280 feet (1,000 m) into the air. Australia and New Zealand: New Zealand: A powerful
wind storm hit the Canterbury region of the South Island, damaging buildings, causing power outages and canceling flights. Pacific: Northwest: A
6.8 magnitude earthquake struck west of Panguna, Papua New Guinea (10-16; 03:31). Solar Activity: Sunspot AR1865 that erupted with a M-1.5 X-ray
flare and sent a huge coronal mass ejection on the last lunar phase, triggered auroras and geomagnetic storms in the Arctic.

18th -- Full Moon (23h 38m) MODERATE

Mideast: Yemen: A car bomb exploded near the entrance of a base in Ahwar district, in Abyan province, killing at least six and wounding ten
soldiers. Iraq: A car bomb exploded in the Mashtal area in the east of Baghdad, killing at least six and wounding at least sixteen. A day earlier (17th)
more than 60 were killed in bomb explosions across the country, including nine attacks again targeting mainly Shia areas of the city. Europe:
Russia: Shiveluch volcano, on the Kamchatka Peninsula, produced several explosions sending ash plumes to 23,000 feet (7,000 m) into the air and
triggering several avalanches. Klyuchevskoy volcano, also on the Kamchatka Peninsula, produced lava fountains and a tall ash plume. Greece: A rare
tornado formed just off the coast of the island of Rhodes, on the 17th. Asia: Afghanistan: A suicide car-bomb exploded in a Taliban attack on a
convoy outside an international compound in the east of Kabul, killing a family of six in a car, an unknown number in the convoy and two Taliban militants.
Africa: Somalia: A suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowded restaurant in the town of Beledweyne, killing at least 16 and injuring more than 30.
Australia and New Zealand: Australia: A number of major wildfires in New South Wales, on the outskirts of Sydney, were destroying hundreds of homes,
and killed at least one man trying to save his home. South America: Brazil: A major fire broke out in the port of Santos, the country's largest
port, destroying 180,000 tons of sugar, sending sugar's international prices to a one-year high. North America: Mexico: A 6.5 magnitude earthquake
hit southwest of Etchoropo (10-19; 10:54). Pacific: Northwest: Typhoon Francisco strengthened near Guam into a Super Typhoon with winds of 144 mph
(232 kph) and gusts of 173 mph (278 kph), and was heading for Japan.

mid-20th-mid-22nd -- Mid-Phase MODERATE

Mideast: Iraq: A suicide bombing at a cafe in a Shia area of Baghdad killed at least 37 and injuried 42. Syria: A suicide truck bombing in the
city of Hama hit a government checkpoint, killing at least 30 and causing a gasoline truck explode, resulting extensive damamges. Europe:
Russia: A suicide bomber set off explosives on a bus in the city of Volgograd, killing at least six; the woman bomber was the partner of an Islamist
militant. UK: Heavy rains and strong winds hit southern England, south Wales and south-west Scotland, triggering flooding in the days that followed.
France: Strong, heavy rains triggered flooding near the Rhone Valley. Asia: Pakistan: A bomb exploded on a passenger train or on the tracks the
train was on in the Notal area in the Nasir Abad District of the province of Balochistan, killing at least seven. Africa: South Sudan: An attack
on villages in Jonglei state by members of David Yau Yau's rebel group, left at least 78 dead, 88 wounded and 24 abducted (mostly children), and this
added to the tens of thousands of homeless; there were ethnic rivalries, and disputes over land and cattle. Nigeria: Boko Haram militants wearing army
uniforms attacked people at checkpoints on a road in Borno state, killing nineteen; they stopped motorists on the road, ordered them out of their cars,
and then shot them or hacked them to death. North America: Mexico: The west coast was evacuated as Hurricane Raymond threatened towns and cities
from Acapulco to Lazaro. Australia and New Zealand: Australia: A tornado ripped through the state of Victoria, destroying and damaging numerous
buildings. Atlantic: Central: Tropical Storm Lorenzo formed in the Atlantic Basin and began to strengthen. Pacific: Northwest: Category
IV Typhoon Francisco was headed on a path that would skirt Japan's coast with tropical storm rains. Mideastern: Category II, Hurricane Raymond developed
near Acapulco, Mexico, and threatened coastal towns and cities from Acapulco to Lazaro with at least heavy rains and strong winds. Solar Activity:
Two large sunspot groups, AR1875 (especially active) and AR1877, emerged over the Sun's eastern limb and were turning toward Earth with the potential of
sending off M-class solar flares.

26th -- Last Quarter (23h 40m) MODERATE

Mideast: Iraq: A number of car bombs exploded around Baghdad, killing at least 39 and wounding dozens; again, mainly in Shia areas. Iran: A Sunni
group, known as Jaish al-Adl, killed 14 border guards for an alleged Iranian massacre in Syria and the inhumane treatment of Sunnis in Iran. This then
lead to the hangings of 16 prisoners by the government in retaliation for the border attack. Syria: A car bomb exploded outside a mosque in the town of
Suq Wadi Barada, in Damascus province; on the 25th. Europe: Italy: Mount Etna erupted with high lava fountains, lava flows, and a tall ash cloud.
Western Europe: A major storm with severe gale-force winds was heading towards the United Kingdom and was expected to cross England and Wales, and then
would shift to the Netherlands, France, Germany, denmark and Belgium, killing at least sixteen. Asia: India: Very heavy rains swamped the states
of Odisha and Andra Pradesh, causing widespread flooding and killing at least 48. Several bombs exploded near a park in Bihar's state capital, Patna,
as prime minister candidate Narendra Modi was to speak, killing at least five and wounding dozens. Afghanistan: A roadside bomb exploded in Ghazni
province, killing 18 (all were women and children) on their way to a wedding; their van was completely destroyed. Bangladesh: Clashes erupted on the
first day of a three-day opposition strike to shut down the government, killing at least three and wounding dozens as police shot at protesters who threw
stones and blocked a main road. Japan: A 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit off the east coast of Honshu (10-25; 10:10). Africa: Nigeria: Boko Haram
militants raided the northern city of Damaturu where they engaged in a gun fight that left 74 of the militants dead; the militants stole drugs and
ambulances from a hospital. North America: US and Canada: A strong storm was being pushed by cold air moving out of Canada, and then created
blizzard conditions for the Northern Rockies, bringing heavy snow across Alberta, and then would hit Montana and the Dakotas. Solar Activity: A
coronal mass ejection swept past Earth, triggering auroras. A X2-class solar flare produced a major effect on the ionosphere, blacking out shortwave
radio waves, late on the 25th.

29th-30th -- Mid-Phase MODERATE

Mideast: Yemen: Zaidi Shia rebels, known as Houthis, fired rockets at a mosque in Dammaj, in Saada province, killing at least four and injuring
several others. Iraq: Three separate bombings north of Baghdad and near the city of Mosul killed at least 20 and wounded at least 23, and caused
widespread damages. Asia: India: A bus, travelling from Bangalore city to Hyderabad, struck a water pipe that ignited the fuel tank consuming the
bus in fire, killing at least 42 and injuring several. Africa: Somalia: A drone air strike destroyed a vehicle carrying Al-Shabab militants (an
al-Qaeda-linked group) that were travelling between the towns of Jilib and Barawe, killing two top commanders. Tunisia: A suicide bomber attacked a beach
front hotel in the Mediterranean resort town of Sousse, causing extensive damages, but only killed himself. Kenya: A passenger train crashed into a bus
crossing the tracks in Nairobi, killing at least 11 and injuring at least 34. North America: US: Hurricane-force winds swept through the
Southwest overturning trucks, toppling trees, ripping off roof structures and sending dust storms sweeping. A dust storm in Arizona swept a highway
causing a 19-vehicle pileup on Interstate 10, killing at least three. Severe storms blanketed the nation's mid-section, bringing severe thuderstorms,
tornadoes and hail. South America: Brazil: After a teenager was shot dead by military police, violence broke out in Sao Paulo, where protesters
set fire to trucks and buses. Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil: A strong tropical depression developed that began to bring very strong storm damage with
heavy rains and strong winds to northern Argentina, Uruguay and southern Brazil. Chile: A 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck west of Constitucion (10-29;
19:51). Pacific: South: A 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck Balleny Islands region (10-29; 03:37). Typhoon Krosa strengthened and was headed for the
Phillipines and then Vietnam, bringing heavy rains and strong winds of 69 mph (111 kph) and gusts of 86 mph (139 kph). Solar Activity: A coronal
mass ejection triggered auroras, on the 31st.

November

3rd -- New Moon (12h 50m) LOW

Mideast: Egypt: Tensions rose prompting demonstrations that appeared to be heading towards violence as Morsi was readied for trial on insigating
murder during previous protests that took place just before he was removed from office. Europe: Kosovo: Masked men forced their way into the
polling places in north Mitrovica, setting off tear gas and smashing ballot boxes in what was the first ethnically mixed election. UK: Stormy seas
pounded the sea shore in Aberystwyth, Wales, causing extensive damage, as winds gusts reached 89 mph (143 kph), bringing down trees and power lines.
Russia: Shiveluch volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula had two larger partial dome collapses that spewed pyroclastic flows, and ash plumes that rose to
altitudes of 23,000 feet (7,000 m). Asia: Thailand: An overcrowded ferry sank near the resort of Pattaya, killing at least six and injuring
sixteen. Southeast: A tropical storm swept the Phillipines and Cambodia with heavy rains, tornadoes and strong winds. In addition, after skirting the
northern Phillipines, Category II Typhoon Krosa was headed for Cambodia with 86 mph (139 kph) winds and gusts of 104 (167 kph), and killed at least six.
Philippines: A 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck southwest of Palimbang (11-03; 03:03). Sumatra: Mount Sinabung volcano erupted leading four villages to
be evacuated, totally about 1,300 villagers near the foot of the volcano. Africa: Democratic Republic of the Congo: Government forces attacked
the last areas held by the M23 rebel group in the forested hills in the east, causing hundreds of refugees to flee and cross the border into Uganda.
Nigeria: A church stampede in Anambra, following a religious vigil, left seventeen dead and dozens wounded, late on the 2nd. North America:
Mexico: Tropical storm Sonia brought a new round of dangerous and life-threatening floods and mudslides to southern Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, Durango,
Chihuahua and northern Nayarit. Pacific: South: A 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck southeast of Neiafu, Tonga, followed by four aftershocks ranging
from 5.1 to 5.6 magnitude. Solar Activity: Multiple solar flares and coronal mass ejections exploded from the Sun's farside, on the 2nd.

6th-7th -- Mid-Phase LOW

Mideast: Syria: Hijaz Square, in Damascus, was hit by a powerful explosion wounding at least 50 and destroying many of the offices of a railway
company. Another explosion hit the town of Suweida, outside the headquarters of Air Force Intelligence, killing at least eight and causing widespread
damages to property. Fighting raged in several areas around Damascus with government forces retaking a key rebel-held town south of Damascus. Iran: A
prosecuter and his driver were shot dead in front of a hospital, in Zabol, as they were on their way to work. Iraq: Two suicide bombings at a military
base in the town of Tarmiya, north of Baghdad, left at least 16 dead and 39 wounded. Europe: Italy: Mount Etna volcano underwent strong ash
explosions from the new southeast crater, and a series of small earthquakes shook the volcano. Netherlands: Violence broke out in Amsterdam before the
Celtic's Champions League soccer game against Ajax, causing the police to arrest 44; eight policemen were injuried. Asia: China: Explosion hit
outside a provincial office of the Communist Party in the north, killing one, injuring eight and destroying cars. Phillipines: Super Typhoon Haiyan
reached Category 5 status, an extremely powerful storm -- one title read that it "Could Be One Of The Strongest Storms In World History" -- slammed the
islands with winds of 195 mph (315 kph) and gusts of 235 mph (378 kph), causing the evacuation of about a million, unleashing a monsterous storm surge with
waves of 15 to 17 feet (4.5 to 5 meters) and in some places as much as 25 feet (7.6 m), even huge ships were grounded. In it path more than 80% of the
structures were completely destroyed, whipping away enter towns and villages, and killing as much as 10,000 or more, and leaving two million homeless.
North America: US: Heavy rains swamped parts of Texas causing flooding. Pacific: Northwest: Typhoon Haiyan became a Super Typhoon heading
for Southeast Asia after slamming into the Phillipines. Solar Activity: Sunspot AR1890 erupted, producing an intense X3-class solar flare, causing
a surge in the ionization of Earth's upper atmosphere that lead to a "a rare magnetic crochet", late on the 5th (22:12 UT). A magnetic crochet is when a
geomagnetic storm occurs while the flare is in progress, unlike coronal mass ejections which take days to produce geomagnetic disturbances. Big sunspot
AR1890 then turned almost directly toward Earth with strong possibilties for M-class and X-ray flares that would hit the Earth.

10th -- First Quarter (5h 57m) LOW

Mideast: Saudi Arabia: Police clashed with protesting foreign workers in a district of the capital, Riyadh, killing at least two, wounding 70 and
arresting 560. Europe: Croatia and Greece: Severe weather began to move into the region, bringing thunderstorms and gale-force winds that ripped
off roofs, killed one and injured 22. Asia: Vietnam: Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in the north, close to the China border, as a Category One
storm, but with wind speeds still an impressive 98 mph (157 kph). About 600,000 people were evacuated from high-risk areas, while it destroyed buildings,
triggered landslides and brought widespread flooding, killing at least six. China: The government issued a typhoon alert for Hainan island, Guangdong and
Guangxi after Typhoon Haiyan's path changed, bringing widespread damages. Tajikistan: Two moderate earthquakes struck destroying more than 100 houses
and severely damaging another 256. Africa: Somalia: A tropical cyclone hit the northeastern Puntland region, killing about 300, and destroying
entire villages, homes, buildings and boats. Pacific: Northwest: Another tropical disturbance began to develop that could impact the same areas
left devastated across the Philippines by Typhoon Haiyan (see previous lunar phase). Solar Activity: Sunspot AR1890 exploded with another strong,
X1-class flare, producing a coronal mass ejection that should hit Earth around the 13th.

13th-14th -- Mid-Phase LOW

Mideast: Syria: An al-Qaeda affiliated rebel group and six other Islamist groups called on opposition fighters to mobilize against the advance of
government forces in Aleppo. Iraq: A number of bomb explosions, some of which were suicide bombers, targeted Shia pilgrims and police, killing least 20
and leaving dozens more wounded. The following day two bomb blasts hit Shia Muslims during a religious procession on the festival of Ashura, killing at
least 41 and wounding more than 100. Asia: Pakistan: Pakistan Rangers paramilitary force carried out a raid in the city of Karachi's
Gulshan-i-Buner area, triggering a shootout that killed at least three Taliban and a member of the Pakistani security forces. Indonesia: Marapi volcano
in Sumatra had a small eruption, sending ash into the air. India: An area of thunderstorms was moving across the Bay of Bengal, and began to organize into
a tropical storm before reaching the eastern coastline with heavy rains, strong winds, widespread flooding and mudslides. A bus travelling from Bangalore
to Mumbai city collided with a road divider that ignited the fuel tank, killing at least seven. Japan: Sakurajima volcano's Showa crater underwent
near-constant ash emissions and several explosions with ash plumes rising up to 14,000 feet (4,200 m) into the air. Africa: Somalia: The tropical
cyclone that hit the northeastern Puntland region continued to dump heavy rains, causing flooding and bringing more damages to the area. North
America: US: Several St. Petersburg, Florida homes were evacuated as 40-foot-wide and 30-foot-deep sinkholes threatened their properties.
Atlantic: South: A 6.1 magnitude earthquake rattled the Scotia Sea (11-13; 15:45). Solar Activity: There was a 60% chance of M-class flares
from Earth-facing sunspot AR1897.

17th -- Full Moon (15h 16m) MODERATE

Mideast: Saudi Arabia: Heavy rains brought severe flooding that closed schools and lead to a government warning to stay inside, three were reported
missing. Syria: A bomb placed in the basement of a government building, near Damascus, exploded killing at least 31 and injuring dozens. Europe:
France: A depression brought deteriorating weather conditions in the Mediterranean, especially in the Languedoc-Roussillon, Corsica and on the Var coast.
Russia: A Boeing 737 passenger airplane crashed at an airport in the city of Kazan, killing all 50 on board; the plane tried to land several times before
crashing. Italy: Mount Etna erupted with lava flows that lit up the early morning skies in Sicily. Asia: Vietnam: Tropical depression Podul
brought heavy rains, triggering widespread flooding that submerged about 100,000 houses, washing out roads, triggering landslides, killing at least 34 and
displacing more than 80,000; eleven were also missing. Afghanistan: A suicide bomber struck a compound near Kabul, killing at least ten and wounding more
than 20, late on the 16th. Africa: Egypt: A train crashed into bus and other vehicles near Cairo, killing at least 20. Libya: Renewed fighting
took place between rival militias on the outskirts of Tripoli a day after dozens were killed in clashes. North America: US: Powerful tornadoes
ripped through Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky destroying buildings, overturning vehicles, dumping tennis-ball sized hail, heavy rain, killing at least
three and injuring hundreds. There were 76 reports of tornadoes and 229 reports of powerful winds. Up to 53 million would be affected in twelve states.
Atlantic: South: A 7.8 magnitude earthquake violently shook the Scotia Sea (11-17; 01:04), and was followed by 24 aftershocks ranging from 4.6 to
5.3 in magnitude. Solar Activity: Sunspot AR1897 grew in size and had a magnetic field that harbors energy for strong M-class solar flares, as it
was directly facing Earth.

mid-20th-mid-22nd -- Mid-Phase MODERATE

Mideast: Iraq: A series of bomb attacks in mostly Shia areas of Baghdad left at least 29 dead and dozens wounded; extremist Sunni militants linked
to al-Qaeda were blamed for the violence. The following day a car bombing in a market in the town of Saadiya, in the religiously mixed province of Diyala,
killed at least 25 and wounded dozens. Saudi Arabia: Sustained torrential rains flooded Riyadh, destroying structures and bridges, killing four and
injuring three. Six mortar bombs landed in a remote area of Saudi Arabia near the border with Iraq and Kuwait; a Shia militant group in Iraq, known as
the Mukhtar Army said it was a warning for the country to stay out of Iraq's affairs. Europe: Italy: A Cyclone Celopatra struck the island of
Sardinia with heavy rains of 17.3 inches (440 mm) that fell in 90 minutes, triggering flash floods, killing 18 and forcing thousands to seek emergency
shelter. Republic of Latvia: A supermarket roof collapsed in Riga, killing at least six and trapping dozens beneath the rubble. Greece: Heavy rains
moved in with severe flooding on the island of Rhodes, killing at least three. Asia: India: Cyclone Helen developed into a Category I headed for the
east-central part of the country. Indonesia: Mount Sinabung erupted several times, sending an ash plume to an estimated 30,000 ft (9,000 m) and forcing
thousands living nearby to flee. Japan: A submarine volcanic eruption gave birth to new island about 1,640 feet (500 m) southeast of the volcanic Nishino
-Shima island. Pakistan: A US drone attack hit an Islamic seminary in the northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, killing five; two were militants.
Africa: Egypt: A car bomb attack near the North Sinai city of el-Arish killed at least eleven and wounded dozens of military personnel. North
America: US: A pair of waterspouts developed off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Solar Activity: Sunspot AR1893 erupted with an X1-class
solar flare, producing a wave of ionization in the upper atmosphere over Europe, Africa and parts of Asia, on the 19th.

25th -- Last Quarter (19h 28m) MODERATE

Mideast: Iraq: A number of bomb attacks hit Baghdad and Mosul, killing at least 27 and wounding dozens; again Sunni militants linked to al-Qaeda
were blamed for the mostly anti-Shia violence. Libya: The government army in Benghazi clashed with the Islamist militia of Ansar al-Sharia, killing at
least nine. Europe: UK: A bomb in a car in Belfast, Ireland caused the evacuation of hundreds, afterwhich it only partially exploded. A masked
gang hijacked the car, placed the home-made bomb on board and forced the driver to take it to a shopping center. Asia: India: A tropical storm
in the Indian Ocean developed into Cyclone Lehar with winds of 69 mph (111 kph) and gusts of 86 mph (139 kph), hitting the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
forcing evacuations, then headed for the east coast, and likely would hit Hyderabad. Indonesia: A series of eruptions at the Mount Sinabung volcano in
North Sumatra forced the evacuation of tens of thousands and lead to the highest alert level. Thailand: Tens of thousands joined anti-government protests
that forced their way into two key government buildings, leading the Thai prime minister to invoke the Internal Security Act, which enables officials to
impose curfews and close roads. North America: US: A severe storm was dumping snow and freezing rain, plummeting temperatures and causing
weather-related accidents in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico and California that were responsible for about a dozen deaths. Australia:
Tropical Storm Alessia was headed for the northwest coast near Wyndham with winds of 46 mph (74 kph) and gusts of 58 mph (93 kph). The storm then moved
east, causing more severe weather, and spawning an EF2 tornado that wrecked damages and injured three people in North Carolina. Atlantic:
South: A 7.0 magnitude earthquake rattled the ocean basin near southern Argentina and the Falkland Islands (11-24; 22:27); it was preceded and followed
by six earthquakes in the area ranging from 4.6 to 5.6 in magnitude.

28th-29th -- Mid-Phase MODERATE

Mideast: Libya: An explosion at a weapons depot in southern Libya killed at least thirty and injuried dozens. Libyan forces clashed with the
Salafist militia group Ansar al-Sharia in Benghazi, killing three and wounding six. Another soldier was killed in a drive-by shooting. Iraq: A group of
eighteen people were abducted from their homes by those wearing police uniforms in the town of Tarmiya and were later found dead with gunshots to the head.
A number of shootings and bombings in Baghdad and the city of Ramadi, left at least 33 dead, on the 27th. Iran: A moderate 5.6 magnitude earthquake
struck near Borazjan, causing houses to crumble, killing at least eight and injuring 190 (11-28; 05:51). Syria: The civil war began to impact the center
of Damascus as a mortar hit near the historic Umayyad Mosque, killing at least three and wounding several. Europe: Italy: Mount Etna volcano underwent
increasingly strong explosions, spewed lava fountains and ejected an ash plume. Ukraine: The country's president refused to sign a Europe Union agreement
on trade sending about 10,000 demonstrators into Independence Square protesting the decision. UK: A police helicopter crashed into a crowded pub in
Glasgow, Scotland trapping many inside, and injuring dozens and killing nine. Asia: Afghanistan: A US drone airstrike in southern
Helmand province killed at least one child and wounded two; it was condemned by President Karzi. Bangladesh: Violent protests broke out after the
government changed the date of general elections. Protesters sabotaged trains, set fire to buses and taxis, and prevented ferries from sailing; at least
fifteen were killed. Thailand: High tide and runoff from recent rains caused a Trang River embankment to fail and caused the river to overflow into Trang
city, killing three. Africa: Egypt: Police fired tear gas at hundreds of Islamist protesters who were defying a new law that bans unauthorised
demonstrations. Mali: Clashes erupted when a few hundred Tuareg protesters stopped the prime minister's plane from landing in Kidal, wounding several
and ending a ceasefire agreement in what was called a "declartion of war." North America: US: The Black Friday shopping histeria lead to shootings,
stabbings, robbery and brawls across the country. Atlantic: North: Cuba was swamped with heavy rains along the coast and its central region where
a building collapsed in Havana killing two. Solar Activity: Comet ISON seemed to be falling apart as it approached the Sun, and most of it
did disintegrate, but a small remnant seemed to have survived.

December

3rd -- New Moon (0h 22m) HIGH

Mideast: Syria: A suicide bomber targeted a government building in the al-Jisr al-Abyad district of Damascus, killing four and wounding seventeen.
Iraq: A suicide bomb and mortar attack on a government compound in Tarmiya, a town north of Baghdad, killed at least sixteen, while a car bomb exploded
in the mainly Shia western district of Baiyaa, Baghdad, killing five, and a bombing in the nearby Sunni suburb of Abu Ghraib killed two. Yemen: Al-Qaeda
militants attacked an army checkpoint at the western entrance to the town of Sayun, and in the clash that insued six militants and three soldiers were
killed. Europe: Italy: Mount Etna again erupted with lava fountains several hundreds of meters high and from several vents that sprayed in various
directions. Heavy rains and floods caused a powerful landslide that destroyed roads and buildings in the town of Montescaglioso.
Belgium: Heavy fog lead to a mass vehicle pile up involving more than 130 vehicles. North: Hurricane-force winds, tidal surges, and blizzard
conditions with heavy snowfall hit Germany, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Scandinavia and parts of the United Kingdom, killing at least seven, knocking out
electricity, felling trees and powerlines, flooding some areas and closing roads. Asia: Malaysia: Kampung Kesing Orang Asli village
in Rompin was swamped with heavy rains, triggering flooding and evacuations. Thailand: Thousands continued to protest the government in Bangkok, and tried
to break through police barricades and storm the prime minister's office, the Government House, and police office as police used tear gas and water cannon
against them. Africa: Nigeria: Boko Haram militants attacked Maiduguri airbase, army bases and parts of the city, destroying two helicopters,
trucks and buildings, in the attack 24 of the militants were killed and trucks of an unknown number of other victims were driven out of the city by the
militants. North America: Mexico: The search for two missing police officers lead to the finding of dozens of mass graves containing the remains
of at least 64 bodies, believed to be the work of drug gangs. US: A massive Arctic cold front evolved into a blizzard, unleashing heavy snow, high winds
and reducing visibility across the northern plains, and then across most of the nation. Temperatures dropped by 30 to 50 degrees, masses of cars collided
in the icy road conditions, trees and powerlines came crashing down. South America: Chile: Two wildfires spread through thousands of acres forest
in Melipilla, southwest of Santiago. Venezuela: Sabotage was blamed for a massive power outage that plunged the capital, Caracas, and other cities into
darkness. Brazil: Once again a five-story building under construction in Guarulhos, Sao Paulo, collapsed, trapping victims in the rubble; injuries and
fatalities were unknown. Solar Activity: Sunspots AR1908 and AR1909 developed magnetic fields that harbor energy for moderately strong eruptions.

6th-7th -- Mid-Phase HIGH

Mideast: Yemen: Al-Qaeda attacked the country's defense headquarters in Sanaa as a retaliation for the launch of US drones there, killing at least
52. Syria: Opposition activists accused government forces of carrying out atrocities against families as they took most of town of Nabak.
Europe: Ukraine: Hundreds of thousands took to the streets in Kiev to protest the government for refusing a deal on closer ties with the
European Union. They blockaded key government buildings with cars, barricades and tents, and toppled a statue of former Soviet leader Lenin. Russia:
Klyuchevskoy Volcano, on the Kamchatka Peninsula, underwent a phase of strong explosive activity and sent a dense ash plume about 20,000 feet (6,000 m)
into the air. Asia: Republic of Singapore: An Indian national was killed by a bus, triggering a riot of about 400 people who threw railings at
police, and set fire to police cars and an ambulance, and injuring sixteen. Africa: Central African Republic: Radical Christian militias, loyal to
the ousted president, engaged in numerous attacks from the north that brought retaliatory attacks from mainly Muslim armed fighters loyal to the new
leadership, killing more than 300 in Bangui, the capital. France then deployed 1,600 troops and a larger African Union force joined in to help end the
fighting in the country. North America: US: A deadly winter storm dumped freezing rain, ice and snow across the country from the West to the
Northeast, closing schools, triggering multiple car crashes, downing powerlines and bursting sewer pipelines. South America: Colombia: A car bomb
exploded destroying a police station, killing at least eight people; authorities blamed left-wing Farc rebels for the explosion. Central America:
Guatemala: Pacaya volcano erupted with a lava flow and a small ash plume that signaled an increase of activity was likely. Solar Activity: A
high-speed solar wind stream shook the Earth's magnetic field, causing a geomagnetic storm and triggering auroras from Canada to the US.

9th -- First Quarter (15h 12m) HIGH

Mideast: Syria: Government forces took control of the roadway linking Damascus with the city of Homs as they seized the towns of Nabak, Qara and
Deir Attiya. Iraq: A car bomb exploded near a cafe in a Sunni Muslim area of the town of Buhriz, killing at least eleven and wounding more than twenty.
Europe: Ukraine: Police began moving against protesters in central Kiev, forcing protesters out of some of streets where protests were being
staged, and taking down some barricades and tents used by protesters. Asia: India: A tropical storm developed into Cyclone Madi headed for southern
India with winds of 75 mph (120 kph) and gusts of 92 mph (148 kph), and heavy rains. Indonesia: A commuter train collided with a fuel tanker truck in
Jakarta, causing it to explode in flames, killing at least five and injuring an estimated seventy-eight. Africa: Central African Republic: An
exchange of gunfire took place between armed militia and French forces near the airport in the capital, Bangui, as the French forces disarmed the militia.
The US offered to send troops to keep the peace, as the conflict death toll reached more than one thousand. Kenya: Gunmen ambushed a police patrol near
the border with Somalia, killing five police and eight civlians, and wounded several others. North America: US: Another round of winter
weather hit the already snow-blanketed East Coast with heavy snow, ice and rain causing more power outages, flight delays and hazardous roadways. Along
with the storm that struck first on the previous lunar phase, the total of the dead reached to at least eleven. Central America: Guatemala: Fuego
volcano increased in activity with shock waves and incandescent avalanches accompanying the explosions as lava flowed. South America: Brazil:
Torrential rains triggered floods and landslides in and around Rio de Janeiro, closing airports and roadways, destroying property, and killing at least 23.

mid-12th-mid-14th -- Mid-Phase HIGH

Mideast: Lebanon, Jerusalem, and Egypt: A powerful winter-like storm with snow, freezing rain, high winds and freezing temperatures in the north
and the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon where there are more than 200 Syrian refugee camps. The refugees had constructed make-shift houses and burned shoes to
combat the cold. In Jerusalem it was the heaviest snowfall in more than fifty years. In Egypt it was more than one hundred years since the last snowfall
there. Palestine: The same storm, Alexa, dumped heavy rain over Gaza where five thousand had be evacuated because of floodwaters that had engulfed the
area, killing at least two. Syrian: Government aircraft dropped barrels packed with explosives on Aleppo, killing at least seventy-six. Europe:
Russia: A powerful storm that originated near Japan hit the Kamchatka Peninsula with blizzard conditions of heavy snow and strong winds. Ukraine; Again,
about 200,000 protesters embodied a rally in the capital of Keiv protesting President Viktor Yanukovych's refusal to sign a deal to include the country
in the European Union (EU); protesters were both for and against the inclusion in the EU. Asia: China: Violence broke out in the state of Xinjiang,
killing at least sixteen. Vietnam: Usually getting no snow a rare snowfall blanketed the country. Japan: Nishino-Shima Volcano in the Izu Island chain,
erupted with lava flows that created a new delta enlarging the island. Africa: South Sudan: Heavy gunfire shrouded the capital of Juba, with the
violence focused around the military barracks. Democratic Republic of the Congo: More than twenty people were hacked to death with machetes in two
villages in North Kivu. North America: US: A Major snow storm blanketed the mid-west through to the East Coast, particularly the Northwest causing
widespread power outages, closing roadways, triggering deadly car crashes and canceling flights. Solar Activity: Two coronal mass ejections struck
the Earth's magnetic field causing a geomagnetic storm on the 14th. Noctilucent (night-shining) clouds surrounded the skies over Antarica.

17th -- Full Moon (9h 28m) MAXIMUM

Mideast: Syria: Government forces delivered air strikes in an area of Aleppo destroying blocks of buildings, killing more than 100, and causing
area hospitals to be overwhelmed by the injuried. Lebanon: A suicide car bomb exploded near Hezbollah in Bekaa Valley along the border with Syria; the
death toll was unknown. Europe: Russia: Sheveluch Volcano, on the Kamchatka Peninsula, spewed ash plumes 17,000 to 20,000 (5,000-6,000 m) into
the air. Asia: Afghanistan: A US helicopter crashed in Zabul, killing six US soldiers; reasons for the crash were unknown. Indonesia: Sinabung
Volcano, in Sumatra, underwent increased siesmic activity that signaled an explosive eruption would soon be possible. China: Heavy rains brought flooding
to Guangdong, Hainan, Jiangxi, Fujian and Zhejiang, as nearly five inches (120 mm) fell in just 24 hours. Africa: South Sudan: A coup attempt
brought violent clashes between army factions, killing at least 400 and bringing about the potential for a civil war. About 20,000 civilians took refuge
in the UN mission in Juba to escape the violence. North America: US; A second major snowstorm spread across New England, laying down another ten
inches (255 mm) on top of the previous 17 inches (430 mm) of the first storm, triggering travel delays, road closures, multiple car crashes, and power
outages. Indian Ocean: Cylone Amara strengthened into a Category IV Cyclone packing winds of 115 mph (185 kph) and gusts of 144 mph (232 kph),
and was headed for Rodrigues Island. Pacific: Northwest: A 6.2 magnitude earthquake shook the Northern Mariana Islands east of Farallon de Pajards
(12-17; 15:38); aftershocks registered 5.0 and 4.7 in magnitude.

mid-20th-mid-22nd -- Mid-Phase and Solstice, 21st MAXIMUM

Mideast: Iraq: A bomb blast tore through a house in Anbar province, killing 15 officers and soldiers that took part in an operation against
militants with al-Qaeda links. In other acts of violence, a bomb killed five police officers in Sharqat, and another four in a gun attack in Falluja.
Syria: Opposition forces in the city of Aleppo have set off a huge suicide truck bomb, seizing back a strategic ruined hospital that was occupied by
government forces; at least 35 of the opposition died in the conflict. Libya: A suicide bomb attack took place at a security checkpoint in the city of
Benghazi, killing at least seven and injuring eight. Palestine-Israel: A Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli troops near the Gaza-Israel border.
Asia: Philippines: Gunmen shot dead four people, including a mayor, at the Manila airport and then escaped by motorcycle; their motive was unknown.
Thailand: Tens of thousands of protesters marched through Bangkok in a continuing campaign to bring down the government. Africa: South Sudan:
Rebel troops captured the key oil-producing state of Unity and controling most of the country, bringing the death toll to at least 1,000 during the fighting
in the capital Juba. Many fled the area in the atmosphere of fear with more than 15,000 escaping to the UN compound in Bor, and it was expected that the
number would grow to hundreds of thousands fleeing to violence. Nigeria: Suspected Islamist militants attacked a military barracks in a fierce battle
that lasted for several hours in the outskirts of Bama town, in the northeast of the country. North America: US and Canada: A huge, deadly storm
swept more than 2,000 miles (3,219 km) and 35 US states with blinding snow, ice, heavy rain, flooding, fog, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, and
causing multiple car pile-ups and closing roadways and airports; at least fourteen deaths were storm related. The storm stretched from Texas to the far
Northeast, and even into parts of Canada, including Toronto and Montreal with some places geting as much as 18 inches (460 mm) of snow. More than
500,000 homes in the north-eastern US and south-eastern Canada were still without electricity more than three days later. South America: Brazil:
Torrential rains hit the southeastern state of Minas Gerias that triggered flooding and a landslide that killed at least thirty. Indian Ocean:
Rodrigues Island was hit by the torrential rains, hurricane-force winds, and strong storm surge of Cylone Amara, which also became a stronger Category
IV Cyclone packing winds of 127 mph (204 kph) and gusts of 155 mph (250 kph).

25th -- Last Quarter (13h 48m) MAXIMUM

Mideast: Iraq: Bombs exploded in Christian areas of Baghdad, with one exploding near a Catholic church as worshippers were leaving a Christmas Day
service, killing 24, and another tore through a market, killing eleven. Syria: Air strikes continued in Aleppo with the air force's barrel bombs
hitting residential and shopping areas, killing at least fifteen, on the 24th; more than 360 have been killed in the past nine days. Egypt: A car
bomb exploded next to a security building, causing a partial collapse of the five-floor building in Mansoura, north of Cairo, killing at least fifteen
and injuring more than one hundred, on the 24th. As the result of this bombing the government declared that the Muslim Brotherhood was a terrorist
group after being blamed for the deadly attack; the government began arresting members on the 25th. Europe: UK: Scotland and Northern Ireland
were overwhelmed by the hurricane-force winds of windstorm Dirk, disrupting flight, ferry and train schedules, causing power outages and damaging
buildings; five deaths were storm related. Belgium and France: These two countries were also similarly affected by windstorm Dirk, killing two.
England: Heavy rains triggered heavy flooding in Kent, Sussex and Surrey submerging more than 1,000 homes, flooding vehicles and causing widespread
power outages. Italy: A storm system brought a mix of rain, snow and strong winds triggering avalanches and landslides, while also disrupting traffic
and ferries. Andorra: An avalanche on the slopes of Grandvalira swept way a snowboarder who did not survive the incident. Africa: South Sudan:
The UN Security Council nearly doubled the number of peacekeepers to 12,500 in order to quell the violence in the country that has left thousands dead
in the past nine days. Nigeria: Military forces attacked those behind the raid on a barracks during the last lunar phase, killing at least seventy.
North America: US: Fresh snow was falling on the already snow covered Midwest to the Northeast, as more than 200,000 remained in the dark from
Michigan through New England. South America: Chile: Massive wildfires engulfed parts of the coastal town of Llico, destroying houses and brush
and forest land. Brazil: More than a week of torrential rains in the southeast triggered widespread flooding, forcing nearly 47,000 to evacuate their
homes and killing at least twenty-two. Atlantic: Caribbean: Heavy rains swamped the islands of Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, triggering
landslides and flooding that killed at least eight; many had to flee their homes. Bahamas: A boat capsized off the Turks and Caicos Islands killing
eighteen Haitian migrants.

28th-29th -- Mid-Phase MAXIMUM

Mideast: Syria: A government airstrike on a crowded market in the city of Aleppo killed at least 21, making the death toll in that city 517 since
the 15th of December. Egypt: Islamist Muslim Brotherhood members clashed with police, as al-Azhar University buildings were set on fire; four were killed,
including a student. Israel-Lebanon: Two rockets launched from Lebanon landed in a field west of Kyriat Shmona, Israel, causing no casualties or damage,
while Israel responded with its tanks firing three artillery shells into southern Lebanon targeting the area from where the rockets were fired. Yemen:
Artillery shells were fired at a funeral tent in the southern province of Daleh, killing thirteen, on the 27th. Europe: Russia: A suicide bomber
attacked a train station in the city of Volgograd, killing at least 16, injuring at least 40, shattering windows, and sending debris and plumes of smoke
into the air. Ukraine: Tens of thousands again protested in Kiev in a new show of force in the month-old anti-government protest movement. Italy: Mount
Etna underwent increased activity with bright explosions and tremors. Asia: Bangladesh: Supporters of opposition parties clashed with security
forces in Dhaka a week before the country's general election, killing at least two, as police fired water cannons and rubber bullets at protesters who
threw stones and homemade bombs; supporters of the current regime also attacked protesters with sticks and rocks. India: A fire engulfed a Nanded-
Bangalore Express train while it was travelling through southern Andhra Pradesh state, killing at least twenty-six. Thailand: Protests surrounding
political unrest, as the election neared, again erupted in Bangkok, where an unidentified gunman killed one protester and wounded several. Indonesia:
Two rivers burst their banks and flooded more than 5,000 homes and shops in the coastal town of Tebing Tinggi on Sumatra island, affecting more than 18,000
who had to evacuate their homes. Africa: South Sudan: Violence and destruction continued within the nation's divided army, bringing the death toll
to at least 1,000 and forcing thousands of children to be separated from their families, even surviving on their own in very remote regions. Central
African Republic: Violence, mostly between Muslim Seleka militia and Christian groups, again plagued the country, forcing thousands more Chadians to
evacuate the country. Somalia: A remote-controlled bomb explosion in a restaurant in Mogadishu killed at least eleven, on the 27th. North America:
US and Canada: Another storm rolled into the North Central and Northeastern states, and Central and Southeastern Canada, bringing strong winds up to 55
mph (89 kph) and plummeting temperatures to as much as 50 degrees below zero Fahrenheit in places in the north, and hitting areas where electricity was
still unavailable from the last storm. New England again received as much as a foot of snow on top of the last storm's snowfall. Mexico: Heavy rains
caused widespread flooding in the south affecting the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo Leon and San Luis Potosi, including declaring a state
of emergency across Tabasco state; people were trapped in their houses, roadways were closed and crops were destroyed. South America: Colombia: A
military bombing raid in an operation in central Meta province killed at least ten members of the left-wing Farc rebel group, on the 27th. Brazil: Weeks
of torrential rain in the southeastern states of Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais culminated in widespread flooding, landslides, and destroyed roads, bridges,
homes, buildings and farmland, while forcing the evacuation of more than 70,000 and killing at least forty-five. Central America: El Salvador:
Chaparrastique volcano had an explosive eruption sending a column of hot ash high into the air and prompting the evacuation of 5,000 from around the
volcano in the San Miguel region. Australia: Cyclone Christine strengthened and would reach Category III status, and headed for the coast where
it would make landfall between Karratha and Port Hedland, battering the Pilbara coast, forcing people to take shelter from the strong winds, heavy rain
and dangerous storm tides. Solar Activity: A Class-S1 radiation storm swept the Earth with energetic protons, following a magnetic eruption near
the western limb of the Sun. Sunspot AR1936 began to crackle with flares, displaying a magnetic field that harbors energy for strong eruptions, and faces
Earth.